[mrsjames2nd]

I would like to use centers because of the great need for me to work with small groups of kids to focus on instruction. My kids in the past years have been close to the same instructional level but this year I NEED to differentiate. PLEASE help any ideas are welcome. I'm trying to make a rotation schedule.

[MommyTN]

I've never tried this particular rotation with second graders. It worked pretty well when I taught first grade, though. This gets pretty complicated, I hope it makes sense!

At the first of the year, I introduce a new center each day and show them how to use it. (I really only use centers that are movable. Most are in baggies or folders). Anyway, I put them in groups of 3 or 4 since I have a small class this year. We have a simple pocket chart system that I'm using for now. I simply move the groups from one pocket to the other each time they switch. Right now, I tell them when it's time to switch centers. My centers right now are: language arts, phonics, spelling, and read with the teacher. I rotate what sort of activities are in each center every day. For example, today they did word puzzles for spelling, tomorrow they'll be doing rainbow writing for spelling.

After a while I stop telling them when it's time to switch. I put out more centers that they've already learned how to do and maybe a new one or two. Still in their groups, they choose a center and complete it. When they are done, they choose another. Since there are more centers and only 4 groups, they usually don't have to wait for one to be open. This is where it gets frustrating. Sometimes they don't want to complete the whole thing before getting another or get annoyed because another group is doing the one they wanted, and all that jazz. It takes a lot of modeling and practice before they get the hang of it and quit whining.

After doing centers in our groups for a loooong time, I start letting them do them individually. At this point, I make each kiddo a center folder. It has a list of centers they need to complete that week. There are usually around 8 or 9 centers they need to do. They check them off as they are completed. I always try to make extra copies of each center, that way no one has to wait for another kid to finish with a center so they can use it. So, if I'm having them put together puzzle pieces to make their spelling words, for ex., I try to make 2 or 3 of those centers. It just cuts down on the wait time. There are some centers (like the lang. arts board games I bought this year) that I can't do that with, so they just have to pick something else if it's being used.

Now here's where it gets tricky. I like to level my centers. Especially after we get to the point where they are doing them individually. I color code their folders. Advanced kids get red folders, on-level get blue, etc. When I'm picking centers for the week, I decide which level each center is on. If I know that my advanced kids could do it, but my middle of the road kids couldn't, I put a red sticker on it. When the kids go to choose a center, they know they can only choose one with their color. Sometimes I put 2 colors on a center because I think it would work for either group. I do try to have a day every now and then where they can pick any center they want just for fun. They get a kick out of picking the ones that are not in their color. I am VERY careful to never let on that some centers are below level. I've used this system before, and the kids never caught on.

Now that I've rambled on and on and on... I hope I helped answer you're question! This system may not work for everybody. I'm still not sure it's going to work for me. We're still in the group phase right now. Hope it helps!

[mrsjames2nd]

GREAT response. I can tell you put a lot of time and effort into your system. I did find a website that has EXCELLENT ideas. I plan on using these for centers and trying it out.
http://www.nuview.k12.ca.us/nes/reso...blacklines.pdf

[ambdillev]

I am a third grade teacher and use workstations in my room (D. Diller). Last year, I had a group that was very low and had quite a few behavioral problems. I put the students into pairs to work together at the workstations ~ usually boy and girl ~ to cut down on the socializing.
I have my students complete a spelling contract each week. The students are responsible for completing enough work for points to get the grade. There is a scale the top that lets them know the required points needed to achieve an A, B, etc. They also have to fill in their goal for the week in points and sign for accountablilty. Some of my workstations address some of the items on the contract to help them fullfill their obligation by Friday.
Some of the workstations:
Letter tiles: give 8 letters ~ 3 vowels/5 consonants ~ spell as many words as you can using the letters provided. You can even have them compete (which my students loved) by giving points for 3 letter words, 4 letter words, etc., adding them up, and seeing who received the most points that week.
Listening center: books on tape, create a book on tape, respond to a book they have listened to on tape, etc.
ABC order and reverse: write spelling words in ABC order and then turn them around and do them in reverse order
Proper/Common Nouns: using a newspaper and highlighters, highlight nouns in the paper. On a sheet of paper with 2 columns, write each noun in the right column ~ proper or common.
Write a story using spelling words
Rainbow writing of spelling words
Hangman with spelling words
Draw a picture and "hide" spelling words in the picture
Verb charades
Magnetic words: on a cookie sheet, spell spelling words with magnetic letters
On the line: using clothespins, write letters on the clothespins ~ spell the spelling words by clipping the clothespins onto a ruler
a station for working of the spelling contract: such as cut out the words/letters for spelling words and make a collage ~ make a word search ~ make a crossword puzzle ~ make a puzzle

Debbie Diller has a few books that could help ~ least they did me! ~ Literacy Workstations: Making Centers Work & Practice With Purpose.

Hope this helps.