Target: Library Centers

[Wendy Carroll <wcarroll@RPPS.NET>]

I am trying to work on making library time better for the two schools I
work at, both are K-6.  I teach 29 classes per week, including 4 spec. ed
classes.  I've gone into the archives and found some great advice on K-2
centers and spec ed lessons but I have a couple of questions.

First, I have purchased a lot of puppets, domino-type games (opposites,
abc, matching, etc), puzzles, dress-up clothes, library related games and
I want to set up centers for the K-2 classes using some of the ideas I've
gotten, but I'm not sure how the students use the centers.  After I have
read them their story and they've checked out their books, do I allow them
to choose which center they go to or do I have them draw numbers/colors
out of a hat which allows 4-5 students at a table.  Most of my classes are
20-25 students and in one school I have 5 tables and 6 in the other.  I
also thought one center could be some computer games, again I have 3
computers in one school and 6 in the other.  In order to make it "fair"
how do you rotate what center each student goes to each week?  I have k
and 1 for 30 minutes and 2 for 40.  I would like to try something like
this with the older students.  What I have done for the past 1.5 years
I've been a public school librarian is to have word searches, crossword
puzzles,
and some other activity sheets for the 3-6th grade.  I find after my 20
minute lesson, there are some students that get into trouble if they
aren't checking out any books (their choice).  I have some students that
NEVER check out any books.  I've tried harder activity sheets, but they
only seem to want the word searches, sometimes they'll do crosswords.

Any ideas would be appreciated.  Thank you.

Wendy Carroll
Library Media Specialist
Ridgefield Park, NJ
Grant (T&Th)
Lincoln (M-W-F)

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