LITERACY BLOCK ENGAGEMENTS for EMERGING READERS

When considering activities for the class to do while the teacher works with a guided reading group, think in terms of specific literacy engagements which support the growth of the children at their ages of development. Listening & Speaking At the listening center, follow along in a book shared in large or small group Engage in a negotiation about how to organize and produce a play, write a collaborative story, etc. Practice a Readers Theatre developed from a book read to, with, or by the students Practice a choral reading of a poem Concepts of Print Form high-frequency words using magnetic letters or letter cards Practice writing letters on an individual white board or chalk board. Form sentences using an individual word bank. Sort words from a bank by phonetic or word type categories Engage in reading behaviors by being the teacher and reading a Big Book to a few students. Reading From the library center, buddy-read a book from shared or guided reading. Read along in a book at the listening center. Be the teacher and guide a couple of other students in an easier book. Repeat read a book from the guided reading group. Read the room using a pointer to read displayed posters, word walls, labels of all sorts, instructions, etc. Go on a word search for: words beginning or ending with a particular sound, words from the word wall found in other places in the room, onsets and rimes, etc. Record the number of words found. Read poems or other passages on transparencies at the overhead projector. Re-create a poem or passage from a story at the pocket chart using the designated sentence strips. Writing Write a Readers Theatre based on a guided reading or shared reading book. Write instructions about how to make something described in one of the books.

Write letters to characters in a book. Write alternative endings. Write for authentic purposes: letters to friends and family, concerns to be brought before the class, invitations to informal dramas, daily journaling. Write character names or specific captions on reusable story cards.

Literacy Center Goals (from the Internet)

Computer Center - Beginning word processing

Listening Center Children will choose books with tapes. Reading Center Children will independently choose books.

Math Center -Number stencils -Flash Cards -Manipulatives -Pattern Blocks

Writing Center -Unlined & Lined Paper -Various writing instruments -Stencils-alphabet, numbers, animals -Making class books

Partner /Buddy Reading Read to/with a friend or a stuffed animal

Pocket Chart -Student's Names -Rhyming Word Cards - Cut-up sentences with an example of original sentence to re-create -Poems we are learning to read

ABC Center -ABC flash cards -Capital/Lower Case for matching letters and sorting -ABC ordering -ABC recognition - Various Alphabet books

Art Center - Playdough letters -Students write letters, words in shaving cream or sand -Magazines

Literacy Tubs -Magnetic letters to sort according to capital/lowercase, letters in child's name -BINGO, -Flashcards

Poetry/Song Center -Poetry/songs on charts -Copies of text for individual books (poetry box or book) -Pencils, paper, markers for illustrations -Cassette player and tapes -Sentence strips, index cards -Pointers, frames

Big Book Center -Big Books -Rack for big books -Frames, pointers Read the Room -Pointers -Clip board with pencils and paper