The Four Seasons Literacy Center

          My literacy center is based on the four seasons of the year and will be kept open throughout our unit on seasons. Throughout the unit we will read several books and poems on the subject of the four seasons. The Four Seasons Literacy Center will correlate with these readings.

The following are a few examples of the activities offered in the Four Seasons Literacy Center:

Super Seasons Writing Prompts:

 

After a class discussion of the four seasons, to get an idea of what the children already know, the literacy center will have these writing prompts that ask questions about the seasons. Some require only one word while others require multiple sentences. The winter prompt has Harry the Snowman asking the students to unscramble words to find his friends (dog, bird, boy, and girl). In the summer prompt students are asked to write about what they might plant in a garden of their own.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.8

-With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

 

Journaling:

I might also have prompts asking which holidays the children celebrate with their families in the different seasons. What their favorite this to do is for each season. What they dislike about their least favorite season. I would ask them to write a journal entry and draw a picture that pertains to their entry. 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.5

-With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from peers and add details to strengthen writing as needed.

 

Read Aloud and Reflect:

            As a part of my literacy center I would either read aloud (or have playing in the listening center) Silly Lilly and The Four Seasons by Agnes Rosenstiehl. The students will listen to the reading and follow along. Afterward the students will sort objects from the story into their correct season. 

I will also have clothing items from each season in the center and the children will be asked to match them to the correlating season, based on what Lilly wears for each season in the book.

 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.5

-Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.

 

Seasons Poems:

            The class will also learn and recite poems about the four seasons. This will help them become familiar with the words of the poems and words associated with the seasons. We will recite the poems each day during The Four Seasons unit.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.6

-Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.

 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.10

-Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

           

            Through this literacy center, I hope to provide my Kindergarteners with the chance to become familiar with poetry and literature and become comfortable with expressing themselves in the classroom. I hope to help them develop their listening and speaking skills as well as their comprehension. I also want to use this literacy center as a way to introduce literature and reading as the important learning and discovery tool that it is. 

Room Arrangement

I think cubbies are important in an early childhood classroom. They provide a place for students to keep their belongings for both inside and outside of the classroom. Cubbies such as these allow for easier organization of the classroom and help to maintain some order. If given the choice, I would put my cubbies between the sink and the door. Upon arrival, students could put their things away, wash up, and join the class without running back and forth and the same goes for when they are leaving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A low sink or a sink with a step stool is an excellent idea for any classroom. Good hand-washing can cut down on the germs and sickness and makes classroom clean up much easier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want my students to have a clear understanding of what is expected of them in my classroom. I think it is important to post a rule list either by the door or over the sink. As long as it is somewhere it will be seen regularly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to provide a comfortable area for whole class reading or group time as well as for individual silent reading. I like how the shelves hold books conveniently close and act as a little barrier to make this area “separate” and cozy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to encourage self confidence and pride in my students for their achievements. It is THEIR classroom too and I want to show that by displaying their hard work whenever poss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think that the best learning environment is one rich in print. I hope to have my walls covered with text, guidance, and encouragement for my students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to have an organized and welcoming classroom. I want myself and my students to be able to move freely around the room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to use my storage a shelf space to maximum potential and that will require maximum organization. I want to have everything clearly labeled so students what goes where.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to provide learning and reading centers that a separate but easily observed and managed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This set-up is ideal to me! It would require either a fairly large classroom or a very small class. If you only had ten students, this could be the permanent seating in the classroom, and I think it would be perfect! If you had a large enough room you could just use it for group reading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like for my desk to be by the door so I could greet students and visitors and be better able to protect my students in traumatic events. I would also love to have a set up similar to this with the horse-shoe table and desk on either side of me. I have seen this in some of the classrooms I’ve visited and it always seems to help with organization, group reading, and time management.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Classroom Layout

This is the type of layout I would want for my classroom. If I could have a big room I would have even more centers. This would be the layout if I were to be a Kindergarten or First Grade teacher.

I want my classroom to be print-rich and colorful.

Large carpet area surrounded by book shelves. The carpet itself has colors and alphabet, which can be used for classroom management and learning.

This is another example of a nice large reading or group time carpet.

I want an arts & crafts center for my students to express their creativity.

An engineering center is said to be incredibly beneficial to children’s hand-eye coordination, math skills, and logic and reasoning.

A dramatic play center is a must in preschool and Kindergarten! Great way to help children develop pro-social skills and gain self confidence.

I absolutely love this corner. It’s cozy and inviting and perfect for guided reading.

I like this listening center. It doesn’t take up a lot of space, it’s cute, and it’s functional.

Every classroom needs a math center. These activity pockets are great for unit study or individual study.

I’m an organization freak. I like this use of a whiteboard (which are becoming obsolete) to store science equipment. I also like how the teacher has labeled what will be used for what and I LOVE how this doesn’t take up any floor space.

A senses learning center seems like a fun idea.

Every teacher needs a smartboard! I would probably put my group time carpet under the white board to make it easier to use with the class.

Cubbies would hold the students coats, lunches, kleenex, school supplies, and I would put the papers for them to take home in a folder in each of their cubbies.