The Missouri Reader Vol. 35, Issue 2 | Page 43

Word-­‐processing  software  is  useful  in  motivating  students  to  compose  and  publish  stories.  You  can  assign  a   specific  task  for  practice  or  provide  choices;  this  can  change  from  week  to  week.     • Researcher’s   Lab:   Located   at   a   consistent   space   within   the   classroom,   the   only   thing   that   needs   to   change   is  the  assigned  task,  which  can  vary  with  your  current  science  unit.  All  that  is  needed  is  some  space  at  a  table,   clipboards,  and  a  variety  of  materials  to  observe  or  explore.  You  can  assign  students  to  record  observations   and  simply  write  about  their  discoveries.  One  easy  assignment  is  to  require  students  to  observe  and  record   seasonal  changes  viewed  from  a  classroom  window.     Figure  2.  Additional  Literacy  Center  Ideas   • Creation   Station:   A   variety   of   art   materials   and/or   donated   scraps   can   be   placed   on   shelves   near   the   classroom  sink.  Students  can  be  assigned  to  follow  directions  to  create  a  specific  project  (great  application   of  reading  procedural  text)  or  can  create  unique  projects  on  their  own.  At  the  end  of  each  session  students   can  write  about  their  creation.       • Read/Write  the  Room:  Younger  children  can  carry  clipboards  and  small  ‘pointers’  as  they  move  around  the   room.   As   children   read   familiar   words   and/or   sentences,   they   can   write   them   on   the   paper   in   their   clipboard.   These   lists   of   words/sentences   can   be   shared   with   people   at   home,   allowing   students   to   demonstrate  their  beginning  reading!  (It  is  particularly  important  to  model  appropriate  use  of  the  pointer   and  how  to  navigate  the  classroom  so  others  are  not  disturbed.)     • • • • •       Overhead   Projector:   Dust   off   that   old   projector   and   place   it   on   the   floor.   Students   can   write   on   blank   transparenc