While reading this chapter I was very intrigued about how to
set up a literacy center. I agree with the book when it says that a classroom
literacy center should be a focal area, immediately visible and inviting to
anyone entering the classroom. I believe that your literacy classroom has to be
student centered because the students should want to be there and want to read.
I believe that you should have certain items set up in your classroom, but I
believe that the students should be able to move things to make their reading
experience better and more enriched. I agree with the book when it says that a
literacy center should be furnished with a rug, pillows and/or beanbags, small
tables, headsets and audio stories, a rocking chair (for teachers), elements of
softness (stuffed animals), and books related to those stuffed animals. I feel
like if the students have an area in the classroom where they can go and read
comfortably then they will be more willing to read and like to read. Students
need to be able to be comfortable in a classroom and have privacy in the
classroom, because something students do not get that stuff at home. I agree
with the book in that a positive impact for the children in the classroom would
be a library corner within the literacy center. I also believe to help with
ordering and making it interactive the books should be lined up with the spine
outwards and set up alphabetically. From there you could make it mandatory to
have them put it back where they found it. That would foster not only picking
up after themselves but also learning to read and understand names/letters on
the books. I believe that you should have a variety of books in your classroom
library including such items as picture storybooks, informational books,
picture concept books, traditional literature, realistic literature, word list
books, poetry, novels, biography, big books and digital texts. I agree with the
book when it states that there should be additional books for young children to
enjoy that are age appropriate non-traditional texts. I think that students a
break from time to time from concentrating on their reading goals with a
specific piece of literature.
I definitely agree that if children have a space that they think is comforting, welcoming, calming, etc, they will develop a desire of their own to read, rather than being told to do so by a teacher or parent. I also very much agree with the importance of organization in the classroom! If books are neatly organized children will spend less time searching for a particular book and more time actually reading the book! Great post Jordan!
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with your post! Students should want to read and it should be an exciting experience. For that to happen the Literacy Center should be an inviting area. With the use of all the items that you said, it welcomes the students to sit down, relax, and open up a good book. Having a literacy center can impact the students greatly when they know that it is a "safe" place and a place that looks fun. What kid doesn't want to have fun? I think that the literacy center should have new books each time there is a new topic being introduced so that the books are relevant. Along with that, there should also be several others just to broaden their horizons. Great Post!!
ReplyDeleteI liked that you stated some characteristics that literacy centers possess but also that students should have freedom and be allowed to move and change things within the center in order to make their experience a more meaningful one. The concept that students need to have a comfortable learning environment is one that I very much support and by allowing students to arrange things in order to feel comfortable is a great strategy in getting them to be more engaged in reading. I also liked that you stated you could make it mandatory to put the object pack where you found it, because one persons comfortable may not be every students.
ReplyDeleteI also feel really strongly about literacy centers!! All the things you listed are important features, especially that it needs to be a soft and comforting environment. The most important element to me, however, is that students need privacy for literature. I have had my own room since I was 8, but I was reading long before then and it was difficult to concentrate on my books while sharing a room with my little brother. Students deserve to have the opportunity to have that time.
ReplyDeleteI also feel really strongly about literacy centers!! All the things you listed are important features, especially that it needs to be a soft and comforting environment. The most important element to me, however, is that students need privacy for literature. I have had my own room since I was 8, but I was reading long before then and it was difficult to concentrate on my books while sharing a room with my little brother. Students deserve to have the opportunity to have that time.
ReplyDelete