Here is my original posting with responses listed below. I know two
people copied their responses to LM_NET, but I am including them again so
it's all together. Thanks so much everyone for your help. I've been
having fun purchasing things for the centers.
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)
I use centers at my early childhood school (Pre & K). I've tried different
things, but usually I let one table (of 6) at a time check out books, then
go to centers. This staggers them about 5 min. each & also means they must
get a book before they can do the activities.
One new thing I may try to keep too many from an activity is the
one-two-three rule our music teacher uses for her centers...she has a cute
rhyme like "count-one-two-three, let them be," or something, so if they
see three people already at a center, they have to find another one. Or
she will put "people" diecuts on the shelf to indicate how many can use it
at once.
Some of our favorite centers are magnetic words on a cookie sheet, a
dress-up Emily Elizabeth (Clifford's friend, a book fair bonus), and a
couple of simple wooden games from Chinaberry. I'd love to have a set of
their silk scarves. Sometimes I let the students use my puppets, or I
bring the globe and giant atlas to a table.
I started the centers with some old wooden puzzles I found in the workroom
& just started keeping my eyes out for likely activities. I got a
mini-grant one year & bought several activities with that. I try to make
sure each activity is literacy-related, but at the early childhood level,
almost all well-designed toys, such as Legos, teach fine motor and
cognitive skills, not to mention sharing, turn-taking, etc.
Having centers has turned what was formerly the time of worst behavior
into their favorite part of library time, because 4 and 5 yr. olds really
cannot sit quietly doing nothing for 15-20 min. And the reward for good
behavior can always be more center time!
Julie Dahlhauser, librarian
Anderson Early Childhood Center
Brownsville, Tennessee
JulDahl@aol.com
I am an LMS in an elementary(K-5) school, also. All my classes are 30
minutes because of the large number of students (850) and I find that a
ten minute book exchange and 20 minute read-aloud or lesson is all I can
fit it. I would love to do centers but if you are without an aide to
handle circulation then I would think it might be difficult to keep things
'flowing.'
I agree-they love the wordsearches. I've created or found one relating to
every book I read, every season, holiday, sport, etc.--keeping degrees of
difficulty for the different grade levels. I mainly use these for 3-6th,
to be done while others are checking out books, or when they have already
checked theirs out and are waiting. It does keep them occupied so that I
can do what I do best: Reader's Advisory and finding books for those
'reluctant' readers.
If they are not selecting a book, ( mine must unless they owe something)
those students may select a magazine to read while the others are
searching and checking out. I found that when I did a lesson on the
various periodicals, having each table of 6 evaluate and do a group review
of one particular tile, (a different volume/month given to each student)
then the kids really got more into the magazines and tried different
things. Each child at the table would have to stand and give a comment
about the periodical they reviewed to the class, and each group would come
up with a consensus: thumbs up or thumbs down on their particular title.
(I modeled a familiar title like Highlights or Disney, and gave them the
less popular ones just for the exposure.) It was amazing how much the
periodical circulation increased as they investigated new titles they
wouldn't consider before.
3rd thru 6th are allowed 2 books, or a book and a magazine weekly, more
when they are researching if necessary. So this is like a 'reward/bonus'
for moving up to third grade, which I emphasize, since k-2 may only select
one book each week. Very rarely do they balk at taking out books! Those
that do just need a little encouragement to find the right book for them,
be it jokes, origami, magic, whatever... And I always ask them to let me
know what they thought of it, so I can steer them in the right direction
the next time.
None of this answers your question, but I'm especially loquacious tonight
because I'm up late working on my Fall book order and procrastinating. So
many choices, I have a hard time narrowing them down!
I would be interested if you get any good center activity suggestions.
Thanks and good luck!
Pat O'Mahoney
Eagle Elementary School
Medford, N Y 11763
pomahone@aol.com
Wendy, I do centers in my library for grades 1-3. I had them for 40 minutes
last year and will have them for 35 minutes this year. This is how I did
it. Each student decorated a custom shelf marker with their name and
"number" on the marker. I wrote the teachers name on the back and laminated
them. Before the classes came in, I set up the centers on different tables
and piled my markers into three random stacks. I read a story first and
then we went to centers. I called the names off of each stack and sent them
on their way. One of the three centers was ALWAYS check out center. I
allowed them to skip their center after check out if they were not through
finding a book. It did not work very well if they were on the last
rotation, but they knew that. I set my timer for anywhere from 8-10 minutes
(8 actually worked best) and then rotated the centers after the timer went
off. I do not have an aide, so I have to check out the books and help them
do searches on the computers and find books, etc. by having 2/3's of the
class in a specific center I was better able to help the kids. It is easier
than turning loose 28 kids to find books at the same time. I tried to find
centers where the kids could be very independent and did not need me to
help. I am more than happy to share what I did with them if you'd like.
Let me know. I did not do centers with 4-5 grade- I tried to work on
search skills and we spent a lot of time working on reference type
materials
(dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.). I hope if goes well for you. Let me
know if you'd like anymore information. I'm happy to share.
Kerrlita Westrick
Media Specialist
Palm Valley School
Litchfield Park, AZ
kerrlita@cox.net
westrick@lesd.k12.az.us
I am a librarian for a Pre-K center. Center activities work great for
me. These are the ones I have in our library-poetry(I always have a poem
or fingerplay and the kids create say a teapot for I'm a little teapot
and glue a copy of the poem on there, Listening center( on a table with
four headphones, art or drawing on another table(I only have 3 tables). I
also have a pocket chart to practice reading poems or matching
activities, flannel board with flannel cutouts, and the computers where
they draw about the story I read or use living books. I usually have the
centers for 2 weeks because I extend on the stories with different
activites so If someone did not get to a center, they could go the
following week. I see each class for 30 minutes once a week. Hope this
helps
Melissa Ramirez
Librarian
Ysleta Pre-K Center
7909 Ranchland DR.
El Paso, Tx 79915
I also find if I don't have something for the kids to do they get in
trouble. SO I always have word searches, WALDO books, etc. I do centers
with my 1 and 2 graders. After I complete a unit - let's say we do an
author study on Kevin Henkes - I then spend a few weeks with Kevin Henkes
centers. I made a computer worksheet - once they answer questions, they
get to play a game; I have materials to make the character stick puppets;
there's usually a listening center and then the game table which can be
bingo, card games, etc. related to the author or characters. IT's a big
hit and the kids love centers - I also find the classroom management is so
easy. I do centers for mysteries, biographies, caldecott, abcs, etc. I
usually try to develop at least one or two a year and add it to my
collection. When we first start centers, I have the kids pick a color
strip from a bag so they know where to start. IF they finish that center,
they may go to another. I usually have some extra activities for those
speedy kids who fini
sh it all in a flash!
Hope this helps!
Doreen Shultz
Mary G. Clarkson School K-2
Bay Shore, NY
I tried the centers for a few years and finally gave up - I don't know if
the kids got tired of them after 4 years or what, but I seemed to have a
lot of "roving" and not much settling down at the centers. This past year,
I put puzzles, paperback books, and magazines at each table. I rotated the
basket with these items around the tables so the kids wouldn't have the
same stuff every week. I changed the contents completely every 8 weeks. I
include the computers and 1 table gets to go them each week - although
that gets difficult trying to help the kids go to the right program rather
than aimless surfing. Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy!! Anyway, I
think I'll stick with the baskets at each table and computers for the 3rd
and 4th grade. I also think I may not provide drawing paper anymore - then
all they want to do is draw. Let me know if you have more questions -
Sandy
Sandy Stephens Maclary Elementary School
Librarian 300 St. Regis Drive
stepsan@udel.edu Newark, DE 19711
Wendy, I am new at this myself but here are two suggestions
for the 3-6 grade students:
1. My students love to look at the "I Spy" books. I have
a table full and they are worn slam out. They are big
books by Scholastic I think and they do not circulate, they
remain in the library. If you are unable to find them
based on my wonderful description, let me know and I will
get the info next time I am at school. This idea was
already in place when I started last year and it works well
except for an occasional squabble over a particular book.
Kids will sit with each other and look for all the objects
listed on the pages.
2. The "Jinga" game or an inexpensive knock-off(no pun
intended) keeps even high school students entertained.
Walmart has them for less than $10.
Good luck!
Angela Wilcox
awilcox@scsnc.org
Wendy, I am new at this myself but here are two suggestions
for the 3-6 grade students:
1. My students love to look at the "I Spy" books. I have
a table full and they are worn slam out. They are big
books by Scholastic I think and they do not circulate, they
remain in the library. If you are unable to find them
based on my wonderful description, let me know and I will
get the info next time I am at school. This idea was
already in place when I started last year and it works well
except for an occasional squabble over a particular book.
Kids will sit with each other and look for all the objects
listed on the pages.
2. The "Jinga" game or an inexpensive knock-off(no pun
intended) keeps even high school students entertained.
Walmart has them for less than $10.
Good luck!
Angela Wilcox
awilcox@scsnc.org
Wendy Carroll
Library Media Specialist
Ridgefield Park, NJ
Grant (T&Th)
Lincoln (M-W-F)
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