Centers and Workshops

Work with teacher should not be a center. Teacher should be able to call on students while they are working in centers.

Math Centers / Workshop

1. Technology Station
2. Math Facts
3. Independent Work (At your desk)
4. Hands On

ELAR Centers / Workshop

At the beginning of the school year we first set up our writing notebook, then we begin our mini lessons as I introduce my students to centers / writers workshop. This sometimes takes up to two weeks. 

Their are three beliefs of writers workshop: Students choose topics to write about, students write for an extended period of time (15 - 20 min.) building stamina, and students write frequently (3,4 or 5 days a week). 

Mini-lessons should only take 5-10 min.-

Mini-lesson #1 Cover page of seed packet and title "Seeds for writing".

Mini-lesson #2 ABC's of ideas ex: a is for my aunt Dagmar who likes to craft with me. 

Mini-lesson #3 Four seasons writing. Each season brings new ideas. 

(I also display anchor charts and model for students)

Mini-lesson #4 Discuss what writing may have looked like in the past, present and future.

Mini-lesson #5 How to use spaces during writing. (Use easel to model example of words squished together and ask students what is wrong?)

Mini-lesson #6 Writing partners and how to use sentence stems for sharing.

Mini-lesson #7 Setting up your writers tool box folder and learning where to place your papers. (Writing in progress, revising, editing or completed writing project etc.)

Other mini-lessons could be based of your students needs. 

 

During Writing Workshop I conference with my student for 15 - 20 min. 

At the end of each writing workshop we share our writing for 5 - 15 min, sometimes we sit at the carpet and I allow a student to sit in the authors chair.

View boggle station "here"

Math labels for centers:

Free center labels, click here.


Helpful Resources:
Leach Teach Stations
Math Workshop Printable
Marsha McGuire differentiated stations