Centertime is a time that my students look
forward to every day. All of my centers are literacy-based. This is a time where students are actively engaged in literacy activities. Students need to take an active role in their learning, and centertime provides just that.

My Reading Block is set up into two parts:
Whole Group and Learning Centers
Each part is 45 minutes long. In whole group, we work on vocabulary, reading aloud, and reading skills. However, those areas are not just limited to Whole Group. We work on those in Literacy Centers as well.

During Centertime, I have five centers set up each day. Students will visit two centers per day (read more about these below under "Center SetUp" and "Center Ideas"). During this time, I am free to work with reading groups on the skills needed and at their own pace. Guided Reading is always a center in both time slots of centertime each day. Some students meet with me every day, while others may just meet two or three times a week. Independent readers may only meet once a week. Every center is not exactly the same for every group. This way I can meet the needs of all levels of learners. High level readers do not become "bored" because they are engaged in literacy activities to meet their needs. When struggling readers work independently in centers, their needs are being met because the center is geared for what they need. My students know from day one (because I preach this over and over!!HA!) that each person is different and that is ok! We embrace diversity!! Each person has something to offer to our class. We all struggle with things from time to time--some more than others, however, we respect them and their needs, therefore, everyone will not always be doing the same thing. My students know that is the same with centers. They don't question me, because they know this from the very first day!
OK, I'm off the soapbox now......HA!

I have put together some center ideas that you might try in your classroom. In addition to the activities, I have provided some tips and guidelines for setting up and implementing centers.