Learning centers: From shared to independent practice
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=181
A lesson plan for Grades K–1 English Language Arts
To become proficient at any skill, hands-on practice is necessary. This ReadWriteThink lesson provides a framework for using a shared reading experience to introduce independent literacy learning centers. Teaching students to work independently is critical to the success of learning centers. Therefore, the lesson involves modeling of each learning center in a large-group setting and the opportunity for students to role play or engage in guided practice before being expected to work independently. Although this lesson uses Seven Blind Mice as an example, the framework is adaptable to almost any text.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 1
- Goal 1: The learner will develop and apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
- Objective 1.05: Increase vocabulary, concepts, and reading stamina by reading self-selected texts independently for 15 minutes daily. Self-selected texts should be consistent with the student's independent reading level.
- Goal 2: The learner will develop and apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
- Objective 2.01: Read aloud independently with fluency and comprehension any text that is appropriately designed for emergent readers.
- Objective 2.04: Use preparation strategies to anticipate vocabulary of a text and to connect prior knowledge and experiences to a new text.
- Objective 2.05: Predict and explain what will happen next in stories.
- Objective 2.07: Respond and elaborate in answering what, when, where, and how questions.
- Objective 2.08: Discuss and explain response to how, why, and what if questions in sharing narrative and expository texts.
- Objective 2.09: Read and understand simple written instructions.
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.04: Share personal experiences and responses to experiences with text:
- publishing non-print texts.
- discussing interpretations.
- recording personal responses.
- Objective 3.06: Discuss authors'/speakers' use of different kinds of sentences to interest a reader/listener and communicate a message.
- Objective 3.04: Share personal experiences and responses to experiences with text:
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.01: Select and use new vocabulary and language structures in both speech and writing contexts (e.g., oral retelling using exclamatory phrases to accent an idea or event).
- Objective 4.02: Use words that name characters and settings (who, where) and words that tell action and events (what happened, what did ___ do) in simple texts.
- Objective 4.03: Use specific words to name and tell action in oral and written language (e.g., using words such as frog and toad when discussing an expository text).
Kindergarten
- Goal 1: The learner will develop and apply enabling strategies to read and write.
- Objective 1.04: Read or begin to read.
- Read or attempt to read own dictated story.
- Attempt to read/reads simple patterned text, decodable text, and/or predictable texts using letter-sound knowledge and pictures to construct meaning.
- Objective 1.05: Interact for at least 10 minutes daily with self-selected texts that are consistent with the student's independent reading level.
- Objective 1.04: Read or begin to read.
- Goal 2: The learner will develop and apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
- Objective 2.02: Demonstrate familiarity with a variety of types of books and selections (e.g., picture books, caption books, short informational texts, nursery rhymes, word plays/finger plays, puppet plays, reenactments of familiar stories).
- Objective 2.03: Use preparation strategies to activate prior knowledge and experience before and during the reading of a text.
- Objective 2.06: Understand and follow oral-graphic directions.
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.02: Discuss concepts and information in a text to clarify and extend knowledge.
- Objective 3.04: Use speaking and listening skills and media to connect experiences and text
- listening to and re-visiting stories
- discussing, illustrating, and dramatizing stories
- discovering relationships.
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.04: Maintain conversation and discussions:
- attending to oral presentations
- taking turns expressing ideas and asking questions.
- Objective 4.04: Maintain conversation and discussions:



