1. Literacy Centres in the Middle Years (4 to 7 ) Adapted from

2. A. Independent Reading Centre 1. Establishing a Reading Centre Purpose Purpose : to expose students to a wide variety of reading material and to develop attitudes in students that reading is not only an enjoyable experience but is also a means of locating information

3. Independent Reading Centre Establishing a Reading Centre Overview Overview : to be accessed during the day by the whole class at silent reading time, by a small group during LDT to research a topic or by a small group during LDT for some other purpose

4. Independent Reading Centre Establishing a Reading Centre Materials Materials : a wide selection of reading material that encourages students to spend time there such as good quality fiction and non-fiction books, magazines, newspapers, school newsletters, photo albums, catalogues, comic strips, program guides, student/class-made books etc

5. Independent Reading Centre 2. Reading Journals Purpose Purpose : students will be able to evaluate and assess their own reading progress Overview Overview : students use the journal to reflect on books they have read Materials Materials : a small note book or exercise book

6. B. Writing Centre 1. Establishing a Writing Centre Purpose Purpose : to provide students with an opportunity to practise and consolidate their writing skills and understandings for a range of purposes and audiences

7. Writing Centre Establishing a Writing Centre Overview Overview : students use the centre to plan, edit, consolidate and publish writing in a variety of forms using a variety of mediums (Some common genres that are usually taught in middle and upper primary are procedures, reports, explanations, expositions, narratives, visual texts such as comic strips /cartoons/web pages/emails )

8. Writing Centre Establishing a Writing Centre Materials Materials : paper, card, computer, utility box with stapler, scissors, rubbers, post- its etc, dictionaries and thesauruses, editing and proofreading guides, punctuation and grammar guides and most importantly guides and examples of the range of genres that the students have been exposed to, other writing support charts

9. Writing Centre 2. Mind Maps Purpose Purpose : to enable students to comprehend and remember new information through organizing and recording in unique and creative ways

10. Writing Centre Mind Maps Overview Overview : students use mind maps to organize the content of a text that has been read, heard or viewed (Other graphic organizers can also be taught and used for this same purpose )

11. Writing Centre Mind Maps Materials Materials : laminated or paper copies of all the graphic organizers, writing materials of different colours, copies of some completed examples of graphic organizers

12. Writing Centre 3. Writing the Walls Purpose Purpose : to help students locate words that are displayed in the classroom Overview Overview : the students can then use the words located as a reference during independent writing

13. Writing Centre Writing the Walls Materials Materials : high frequency word charts, word family charts, phonogram charts, 100 most frequently misspelt words chart, charts of examples of a variety of different genres and students own published work

14. Writing Centre 4. Independent Writing Purpose Purpose : to promote writing as a rewarding, enjoyable and creative activity Overview Overview : students are to write independently and cooperatively using a wide variety of genres

15. Writing Centre Independent Writing Materials Materials : different types of paper, a variety of writing materials, computer for publishing, dictionaries and thesauruses, scrap paper for having a go at spelling, plastic pockets for students to keep their drafts, writing support charts eg punctuation, grammar, genre guides

16. C. Computer Centre

17. Computer Centre 1. Fact versus Opinion Purpose Purpose : to provide students with the opportunities to identify the difference between fact and opinion through information found on the internet Overview Overview : use the interests of the students to research info and then discuss and justify whether the info collected is fact or opinion

18. Computer Centre Fact versus Opinion Materials Materials : computer with internet access, highlighters of different colours

19. Computer Centre 2. Editing and Proofreading Purpose Purpose : to focus the students’ attention on the importance of spelling as a functional aspect of writing Overview Overview : students are provided with practice editing and proofreading without the distraction of the mechanics of writing

20. Computer Centre Editing and Proofreading Materials Materials : teacher –prepared message accessed by computer

21. Computer Centre 3. Information and Research Purpose Purpose : to give students the skills to analyze, sort and use information gained through computer access Overview Overview : students will develop the skills to set purposes, self and peer questioning and comprehending

22. Computer Centre Information and Research Materials Materials : information that is related to a class topic either from newspapers or the internet

23. D. Responding to Text Centre 1. Book Quiz Purpose Purpose: to encourage students to recall and discuss texts that they have previously read Overview Overview : the aim is for the group to guess the title by looking at the poster that displays aspects of a text by using a set procedure for questioning the person who has chosen the text

24. Responding to Text Centre Book Quiz Materials Materials : titles of books that the majority of students have read on cards and a poster displaying aspects of texts that will support the group in forming questions

25. Responding to Text Centre 2. Changing Text Form Purpose Purpose : to demonstrate understanding of text through representing it in a different form Overview Overview : by changing the text into another format students use higher order thinking to identify main ideas

26. Responding to Text Centre Changing Text Form Materials Materials : will vary depending on form chosen but have on hand a selection of clothes and other material for drama activities, blank comic strip format, art materials

27. Responding to Text Centre 3. Character Diary Purpose Purpose : to encourage students to respond to text using the genre of diary writing Overview Overview : during the reading of a chapter book, students take on the role of a character and make diary entries about events and feelings of the character

28. Responding to Text Centre Character Diary Materials Materials : examples of diaries or entries from diaries and genre sheet showing layout and construction of a diary entry

29. Responding to Text Centre 4. Character Web Purpose Purpose : to provide opportunities to interpret and evaluate information at literal, inferential and critical levels to build a picture of a chosen character from a text either chosen by the student or teacher determined

30. Responding to Text Centre Character Web Overview Overview : this assists students to see relationships between different characters and situations and make judgments about these, make inferences about characters and the part they play in the story, put themselves in the character’s situation and consider each character’s point of view

31. Responding to Text Centre Character Web Materials Materials : familiar narrative text, auto- or biography or factual text containing characters and writing materials

32. Responding to Text Centre 5. Sensory Wheel Purpose Purpose : to provide an excellent strategy that can be used to respond to any visual text Overview Overview : students respond to a visual text using a circle divided into five sections which relates to each of the five senses

33. Responding to Text Centre Sensory Wheel Materials Materials : a large interesting picture with lots of details, copies of poems, songs, creative writing stories or oral discussions

34. Responding to Text Centre 6. Visualization and Mental Imagery Purpose Purpose : to provide students with a simple structure which enhances responses to any text in a creative manner Overview Overview : students learn to use visualisation techniques to think about what they have read Materials Materials : a text that has been read by the whole class or a small group

35. Responding to Text Centre 7. Compare and Contrast Purpose Purpose : to encourage students to respond to a text where the author is expressing how things are different or alike Overview Overview : students will learn to recognise and use cue words such as “different”, “in contrast”, “same as” or “on the other hand”and will experience using a graphic organizer to support their responses to text

36. Responding to Text Centre Compare and Contrast Materials Materials : several A4 laminated cards with a Venn diagram on each, overhead pens and multiple copies of a text that expresses how things are different

37. Responding to Text Centre 8. Reading Circles Purpose Purpose : to heighten the comprehension skills of students through sharing different aspects of text Overview Overview : each student is given a different role to carry out during the reading of a text

38. Responding to Text Centre Reading Circles Materials Materials : a variety of cards with a role description written on each, multiple copies of the text

39. Responding to Text Centre 9. Reading Journal Response Purpose Purpose : to encourage students to reflect critically on what they have read using higher levels of comprehension skills Overview Overview : during or after the reading, the students write comments or predictions about the text Materials Materials : examples of formats that can be used when responding to a text and a journal book

40. E. Critical Literacy Centre 1. Analyzing Newspaper Photographs Purpose Purpose : to assist students to consolidate their understanding of photos as constructions, to analyze and interpret meaning from newspaper photos and to draw conclusions about the intent of the photos

41. Critical Literacy Centre Analyzing Newspaper Photographs Overview Overview : students will have prior experience in considering how their experiences, culture and context as viewers influences their interpretations of photos and as well will draw on prior knowledge and understanding of photographic techniques which can influence interpretations (size, camera angle, position, direction, body language, clothing and focus )

42. Critical Literacy Centre Analyzing Newspaper Photographs Overview( cont) Overview( cont) : students will consolidate their understanding of issues related to gender, stereotypes, emotive intent, impact on the reader and intended and unintended messages Materials Materials : newspaper photos (laminated ), accompanying headlines, additional info on how, when, why and where the photo was used

43. Critical Literacy Centre 2. Point of View Purpose Purpose : to develop an understanding of characters and justify a view taken of them Overview Overview : students choose a character and discuss and justify their opinion about the character then create a representation of them

44. Critical Literacy Centre Point of View Materials Materials : will vary according to form of character representation chosen by teacher or student

45. Critical Literacy Centre 3. Responding Critically to Advertisements Purpose Purpose : to encourage students to extend their critical literacy skills through the genre of advertising Overview Overview : students critically analyze advertisements, identifying values, attitudes and cultural messages which may be intended or unintended

46. Critical Literacy Centre Responding Critically to Advertisements Materials Materials : a selection of newspaper, magazine or television advertisements on a particular theme such as Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day etc to be read or viewed

47. Critical Literacy Centre 4. Sociograms Purpose Purpose : to critically analyze relationships between characters from a read, heard or seen text, to represent character relationships in a form of a graphic organizer and to explore literal and implied relationships between characters

48. Critical Literacy Centre Sociograms Overview Overview : students identify and represent in diagrammatical format the relationship between identified characters Materials Materials : a variety of writing materials

49. Critical Literacy Centre 5. Structured Controversy Purpose Purpose : to encourage students to work collaboratively and to reach consensus about a text that has been read, heard or viewed Overview Overview : students take turns at looking at different sides of a statement or opinion

50. Critical Literacy Centre Structured Controversy Materials Materials : cards with two statements or opinions written on them

51. Critical Literacy Centre 6. Key Points Purpose Purpose : to encourage students to read for the purpose of identifying the main ideas and points in written text that may either be read, viewed or heard Overview Overview : students demonstrate their comprehension of text by identifying the key points, the main idea or ideas, the major concepts and generalizations within the text (three levels of comprehension used here )

52. Critical Literacy Centre Key Points Materials Materials : writing materials, overhead transparencies and markers, individual cards marked one to ten, multiple copies of the text

53. Critical Literacy Centre 7. Character Report Purpose Purpose : to assist students to develop the ability to define and write a report on the attributes of a character Overview Overview : students choose or teacher selects a character from a recently read book and they interpret, evaluate and justify opinions about this character orally before they do a written report

54. Critical Literacy Centre Character Report Materials Materials : depends on whether this is an individual or group effort – large paper if a group effort ( Graphic organizers are a good visual tool to assist with sorting and classifying aspects of a characters before the written report eg Character Web )

55. F. Genre Centre 1. Matching Text Forms Purpose Purpose : to assist students with their understanding of the structure and features or a variety of text forms Overview Overview : students discuss a variety of photocopied text forms and then label each form appropriately justifying their choice

56. Genre Centre Matching Text Forms Materials Materials : text form labels and a box containing different examples of text forms such as letter, recipe, narrative, description, recount, report, an explanation, an invitation and a persuasive text

57. Genre Centre 2. Report Puzzles Purpose Purpose : to consolidate understanding of the organizational structure of a report (This can be adapted to any genre structure) Overview Overview : students reconstruct a text and name the components of the genre

58. Genre Centre Report Puzzles Materials Materials : examples of written reports (or other genres ) cut into clusters of information and cards with headings relating to the information contained in the text

59. Genre Centre 3. Storytelling Purpose Purpose : to develop oral language skills through shared storytelling Overview Overview : students will become familiar and confident with aspects of storytelling Materials Materials : cards with titles of well- known stories

60. Genre Centre 4. Text Reconstruction Purpose Purpose : to enable students to recognize the elements which make up a variety of genres Overview Overview : students recreate the correct components under each genre heading from cards with components from 3 or 4 different genres

61. Genre Centre Text Reconstruction Materials Materials : cards with the components of genres written on them and heading cards with the name of the genre written on them

62. G. Sequencing and Retelling Centre 1. Comic Sequencing Purpose Purpose : students practise the skills of sequencing and reading for meaning Overview Overview : students reconstruct comic story texts into their correct sequence Materials Materials : laminated comic strips or comic pages cut into individual frames and plastic snap lock bags for storage

63. Sequencing and Retelling Centre 2. Paint and Write Purpose Purpose : to encourage students to express their ideas through the media of paint as a rehearsal for writing Overview Overview : students are given the opportunity to paint before writing Materials Materials : paint,colourful art materials, paper or other material to work on

64. Sequencing and Retelling Centre 3. Reconstructing a Narrative Purpose Purpose : to demonstrate to students that language is flexible and can be manipulated to link to illustrations in a meaningful way Overview Overview : students will arrange in correct order a series of their own artwork pictures from a known text along with the actual text itself

65. Sequencing and Retelling Centre Reconstructing a Narrative Materials Materials : chunks of text typed onto individual cards containing the sequence of the story, cards that contain the textual features of the narrative eg orientation, complication, problem and resolution and artwork from students depicting certain parts of the story

66. Sequencing and Retelling Centre 4. Story Ladders Purpose Purpose : to encourage students to summarize information sequentially to complete a retell Overview Overview : students demonstrate their knowledge of sentence structure to make meaning by completing each other’s sentences Materials Materials : writing materials

67. Sequencing and Retelling Centre 5. Story Maps Purpose Purpose : to assist students to develop their understanding of a story structure, setting and sequencing time Overview Overview : students will develop mapping concepts, be able to identify major features of texts and recall texts in sequence Materials Materials : writing and drawing materials

68. Sequencing and Retelling Centre 6. Written to Written Retell Purpose Purpose : to enhance comprehension at word, sentence and whole text level Overview Overview : students predict, recall, organize and summarize information Materials Materials : multiple copies of a short text that can be read in about 10 minutes and writing materials

69. H. Test Structure Centre 1. Jumbled Text Purpose Purpose : to assist students in analysing pieces of text and identify the genre in which it is written Overview Overview : students manipulate pieces of text to demonstrate understanding of the impact of text structure and sequence on text cohesion

70. Test Structure Centre Jumbled Text Materials Materials : a variety of texts written by students or from a book cut into sentences or paragraphs, a complete copy of the text and writing materials ( Use one colour per text for ease of identification – how you cut up text will be determined by text difficulty and ability of the students )

71. Test Structure Centre 2. Semantic Grid Purpose Purpose : students will learn how to match a set of attributes to a particular concept Overview Overview : students use a graphic organizer to develop the skills of identifying details and comparing properties or concepts from informational texts Material Material : an information text and a grid with the concepts listed in the left hand column and the descriptors along the top row

72. Test Structure Centre 3. Sentence Manipulation Purpose Purpose : to demonstrate to students that language is flexible and can be manipulated in a variety of ways and still make sense Overview Overview : students are given different sentence structures and are required to change, improve, complete or transform them in some way

73. Test Structure Centre Sentence Manipulation Materials Materials : sentence strips, word cards, scissors, sentence maker or holding strip, photocopied sections of text on cards and a white board

74. Test Structure Centre 4. Text Grammar Purpose Purpose : to assist students to identify and organize grammatical information from a text Overview Overview : students use a text to identify parts of grammar within a text and record their answers on a proforma Materials Materials : Text, text grammar proforma and writing materials

75. Test Structure Centre 5. Text Bingo Purpose Purpose : to develop the skill of identifying, naming and understanding specific parts of text Overview Overview : students learn to identify/ recognize the component parts of text by using the format of the game Bingo

76. Test Structure Centre Text Bingo Materials Materials : Bingo board for each group member, a series of cards with a word or phrase that represents part of text eg the name of or information about the author, the title of the book, the name of a character, information about a character, blurbs about a text and a container of small coloured counters

77. Test Structure Centre 6. Who? What ? Where? When? Purpose Purpose : to identify and comprehend components of text at a sentence level Overview Overview : students arrange the parts of a sentence from a familiar text under each of the headings who, what, where, when and why

78. Test Structure Centre Who? What ? Where? When? Materials Materials : laminated chart divided into four columns with the headings who, what, where, when /why, sentences from a familiar text cut into components of sentence structure (who, what, where, when /why) and OHT markers

79. Test Structure Centre 7. Semantic Overviews Purpose Purpose : to develop the skill of linking new information to prior knowledge and to extract the main ideas from a text structure using narrative or non-narrative story structures Overview Overview : students discuss, locate and record the main idea, supporting ideas and other relevant information

80. Test Structure Centre Semantic Overviews Materials Materials : multiple copies of a narrative or non- narrative text, large piece of paper to record group findings or appropriate graphic organizers – laminated or not depending

81. I. Word Study Centre 1. Word Building Purpose Purpose : to encourage students to extend their knowledge of words Overview Overview : students make lists of words and word families by manipulating letters and clusters of letters

82. Word Study Centre Word Building Materials Materials : cards with small words written on them such as “at”, “no” and “in”, cards with single letters and two and three letter blends written on them ( Use different coloured paper for each set of cards )

83. Word Study Centre 2. Matching a Prefix or a Suffix Purpose Purpose : to match words with appropriate prefix or suffix Overview Overview : students become familiar with prefixes and suffixes and word building strategies by manipulating words with suitable prefixes and suffixes

84. Word Study Centre Matching a Prefix or a Suffix Materials Materials : cards with prefixes and suffixes written down the side and word cards (Use different coloured card for words and prefixes and suffixes )

85. Word Study Centre 3. Phonograms Purpose Purpose : to assist students to understand the importance of phonograms (a letter blend that begins with a vowel ) in helping them to decode and spell a wide variety of words eg –ake, -ight Overview Overview : students will manipulate letter blends and phonograms to make lists of word families and words that rhyme

86. Word Study Centre Phonograms Materials Materials : a sentence holder (optional), a selection of phonograms on cards and a selection of cards with single letters or two and three letter blends ( Use different coloured card for the phonograms and the letter blends )

87. Word Study Centre 4. Word Puzzles Purpose Purpose : to provide opportunities for students to explore language by playing with words, engaging in problem-solving activities, analyzing and monitoring language as they develop their understandings about spelling and of how language works

88. Word Study Centre Word Puzzles Overview Overview : students build words from prepared cards that give clues to which letters are required to make a word (Focus can change from individual letters to syllables to phonograms to whatever you want to focus on at the time) Materials : writing materials and word building cards

89. Word Study Centre 5. Small Words from Big Words Purpose Purpose : to enable students to locate small words contained in larger words (which is a necessary skill in both reading and writing ) Overview Overview : students identify as many small words as they can from these larger words Materials Materials : laminated cards with large words written on them, dictionaries and OHT markers

90. Word Study Centre 6. Word Webs Purpose Purpose : to assist students to make different kinds of word associations Overview Overview : students make words that rhyme, have common sounds, have similar letter patterns, end with the same suffix, begin with the same prefix, mean the same, have the same origin or compound words

91. Word Study Centre Word Webs Materials Materials : OHT coloured markers, whiteboards and markers, chalk and chalkboards, paper and laminated sheets of paper