Center Time

After I teach a lesson, I often have the students go to different centers in the classroom to put those skills in practice.  They stay at their center for 10-15 minutes.  When the alarm sounds, they move on to the next center.  I always have one center with me, one that is play oriented, one that is writing and the others are skill based.  Not only does center work reinforce the skills of the week, it is great at teaching cooperation, sharing, self-control, and responsibility.  At this center in the top photo, I am working with a group on identifying the first sound in a word.

At this center, they are learning how to make the letters
using straight lines and curves with these magnetic pieces.
Then they trace it with their finger.

These students are working on various file folders: 
matching upper and lowercase letters, categorizing
 and first sound.

These students are matching uppercase and
lowercase letters.

These next three students are using a clipboard and
finding words in the room.  They try to write the words
on their paper.  The kids love this activity!