How to Design a School Literacy Center

Literacy centers provide children with independent practice in writing, reading, spelling and listening.

Literacy centers are spaces set aside in a classroom where students complete literacy activities independently while teachers provide direct instruction to small guided reading groups. Literacy centers are used in preschool and primary classrooms to reinforce previously taught literacy skills. New skills are generally introduced during guided reading instruction or whole group instruction. The most common types of literacy centers are library centers, listening centers and writing centers.

Things You'll Need

• 20 to 30 age-appropriate books
• 2 bookshelves or book pocket chart
• Paper
• Writing utensils
• Walkman, Discman, or mp3 player with earphones
• Bean bag chair or tent
• Two tables
• 4 to 6 chairs
• Magnetic board or cookie sheet for magnets
• Stuffed animals, puppets, and props that relate to the books
• Glue, scissors, stencils, alphabet and number stamps, stamp pads, letter and number magnets, tape, stapler and staples, and paper clips

Instructions

Setting Up a Library Center

1. Choose a quiet location in the classroom. Place a bean bag chair or tent in the center for students to sit or lie comfortably while reading.

2. Select 20 to 30 books for the library, including fiction, nonfiction, magazines, student-made books, class-made books, and books you have read aloud in class. Set up a book display with a bookshelf or a book pocket chart with the books you have chosen.

3. Provide paper and writing utensils for students to draw or write about the books they have read. Add stuffed animals, puppets, and props for children to act out stories they have read, demonstrating comprehension.

Setting Up a Listening Center

1. Select a quiet place in the classroom. Set up a Walkman, Discman, mp3 player, or other recording/playback device with earphones on a table. Put two chairs at the table.

2. Position book and tape/CD/mp3 sets in a book pocket chart next to the table.

3. Place paper and writing utensils on the table for students to draw or write about the story they hear.

Setting Up a Writing Center

1. Position a table and two to four chairs in a corner of the classroom.

2. Place notebook paper, plain paper, notepads, construction paper and envelopes on the table. Add writing utensils, including pencils, crayons, markers and colored pencils.

3. Provide children with other classroom materials: glue, scissors, stencils, alphabet and number stamps, stamp pads, letter and number magnets, tape, stapler and staples, and paper clips. Place a magnetic board or cookie sheet in the center to practice spelling with magnets.

Tips & Warnings

• For younger children, create picture direction signs and post them in the center.

• For older children, type out rules and procedures and post them in the center.

• Use baskets or storage drawers to store materials in the writing center.

• If you plan to include pencils or markers in the listening or library center, explain to the students that they are not to write inside the books.

References

• Teaching Resource Center: Implementing Literacy Centers in the Early Childhood Classroom
• Region 4 Education Service Center: Designing Effective Literacy Centers for the 2nd Grade Classroom
• Scholastic: Creating an A+++ Classroom Library
• Scholastic: Writing/Handwriting Center

Resources

• Scholastic: The New Teacher's Guide to Setting Up Learning Centers