Language Arts Learning Centers for the Primary Grades

Auteur

Carol A. Poppe received her B.A. degree from Ohio University and has taken several graduate courses at Oakland University and Siena Heights College. Mrs. Poppe has 25 years of teaching experience at the first- and second-grade levels. She and her husband, Michael, enjoy camping and have traveled to most of the states and Canadian provinces. She has three daughters, Nancy, Molly, and Jenny, who live in Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee, respectively.

Nancy A. Van Matre, who received her B.A. degree and M.A. degree in Reading from Eastern Michigan University, has been actively teaching grades 1 through 3 since 1975. She resides in Ann Arbor with her husband, Bruce Miller, and their two sons, Nick and Jason.
During the past fifteen years, the authors have used their learning centers as an integral part of their classroom schedules at Clinton (Michigan) Community School. After presenting workshops, they realized that other educators wanted to begin a learning center system, but needed management techniques, leaning center activity ideas, and shortcuts.
In an effort to help other educators, the authors have also written Science Learning Centers for the Primary Grades (1985), K-3 Science Activities Kit (1988), and Social Studies Learning Centers for the Primary Grades (1989), each published by The Center for Applied Research in Education.

Texte du rabat

This unique resource provides over 100 reproducible whole language activities to improve students' skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, math, art, and other content areas... plus detailed directions for setting up a learning center system in which each child participates daily at an individual learning center. Included are four complete language arts learning center units that will fit into virtually any primary curriculum and can be used in any order followed by specific techniques for introducing, setting up, managing, and evaluating learning centers as part of the regular classroom.

Each learning center unit is base on popular children's books and contains ready-to-use activities related to a variety of content areas. Unit themes and sample activities include: "Dr. Seuss and his friends" In a People House rhyming game, McElligot's Pool paste up, and Fox in Sox Tongue Twister are just three of the activities in this unit that help build reading, creative writing, and fine-motor skills.

"Bears" Students develop computer, art, math skills along with reading and language skills when completing activities such as Corduroy computer banner, Teddy Bears Cure a Cold poster page, and Little Bear graph fun.

"Dogs" Clifford Takes a Trip travel mobile, Snoopy comic strip, and Tallyho, Pinkerton! science fun are just three examples of the activities in this section that motivate students to use reference materials and research scientific facts.

"American Tall Tales and Legends" Speaking, listening, and spelling are three of the skills emphasized in unit activities such as Johnny Applesee*d storytelling, *Paul Bunyan cassette book, and John Henry spell fun.

For easy use, all of the learning center activities in each unit include reproducible illustrated direction pages designed for mounting on file folders and student activity pages ready to be copied as many times as needed.

Each unit also provides an illustrated bulletin board activity... a letter to parents explaining the learning center activities and suggesting home enrichment ideas... a group activity that can be done by the entire class... and "take off" suggestions that serve as springboards for extended activities across other content areas.

You'll find the learning center activities in these units give children a variety of opportunities to acquire new knowledge, practice previously taught concepts, and develop independent learning skills and creativity. They are appropriate for use with students at all developmental levels, grades K-3.

For primary teachers, as well as resource-room and special education teachers, Language Arts Learning Centers for the Primary Grades presents a practical way to make learning centers an important part of your teaching program to develop independent learners. The activities can also be used for whole group instruction.

Résumé
Featuring four language arts learning center units, based on popular children's books, this handbook provides over 100 reproducible whole language activities that attempt to improve students' skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, math, and art. It also provides children a variety of opportunities for acquiring knowledge.

Contenu
About This Book. To the Teacher. MANAGMENT. How to Manage a Learning Center System. Advantages of Using Learning Centers. How to Make a Color Wheel Featuring Four Reading Groups. How to Set Up the Classroom into Four Areas. How to Assign Desks. How to Make a Desk Divider. How to Keep Track of Each Child at Learning Centers. How to Evaluate the Learning Center Activities. How to Introduce a New Set of Learning Centers to the Entire Class. How to Explain Learning Centers to Parents. LANGUAGE ARTS LEARNING CENTERS. Dr. Seuss and His Friends. Bears. Dogs. American Tall Tales and Legends. BIBLIOGRAPHY. ENJOYING LANGUAGE ARTS. Reinforcement During School. Reinforcement of Skills at Home. Reinforement Activities for the Home. Recruiting Help.