Guided Reading Centers

Instruction Manual

Mrs. Van Dyke’s Class

GrammarCenter

Follow the directions in the grammar center to complete the activity. An example will be at the center for you to see, in case you have any questions.

Grammar Wheels

Materials: one copy of each of the pages

scissors

brass paper fastener (one per student)

Steps:

  1. Cut out the two wheels.
  2. Carefully cut out the window(s) on the TOP (smaller) wheel.
  3. Push a paper fastener through the dots on each wheel.
  4. Place the top wheel on top of the bottom wheel.
  5. Line up the holes in the center of both wheels and insert a paper fastener through the holes. Flatten the paper fastener at the back to secure.
  6. Line up the words so that they show through the windows.
  7. Turn the bottom wheel clockwise to display new words in the windows.
  8. Complete the worksheet that goes along with your new Grammar Wheel.

Grammar Pull-Throughs

Materials:one copy of each of the pages

scissors

Steps:

  1. Cut out the word strip.
  2. To create a slit, cut along the solid lines. To do this, fold the page in half and then cut the lines. Then open the fold and continue cutting along each line.
  3. Place the page facedown and weave the word strip so that the words at the bottom show through the window.
  4. Gently pull the word strip down to display new words in the window.
  5. Complete the worksheet that goes along with your new Grammar Pull-Through.

Grammar Flip-Ups

Materials:one copy of the grammar page

scissors

Steps:

  1. Cut out the flip-up by cutting along the solid outer lines on Side A.
  2. Place Side B faceup. Fold the right and left sections along the dashed vertical lines. Fold in toward the center so that both edges meet.
  3. Cut along the short solid lines to create the flip-up flaps.

WordBuildingCenter

Materials:

Cookie sheet

Bag of magnets

Journal

Steps:

  1. Take a cookie sheet and a bag of magnets back to your desk.
  2. Use the magnets to make as many words as possible.
  3. Write each word that you find in your journal. Please make at least ten words.
  1. Return the materials to the center.

WordChainCenter

Materials:

Word Chain Puzzle

Steps:

  1. Take one word chain puzzle from the folder.
  2. Change one letter at a time.
  3. Try to get from the first word to the last word, by making a new word each time.
  4. Put your completed puzzle in your guided reading folder.

BONUS!!!!

Make your own word chain! :o) Make sure you only change one word at a time. You can make your word chain in your journal or on a piece of paper from the writing center.

Before you put it in your folder, make sure you label it “Word Chain Bonus” so that you earn points!

Word Families

Materials:

Set of letter tiles

Journal

Steps:

  1. Get a set of letter tiles from the center and bring it back to your desk.
  2. Use the letter tiles to create as many words as you can.
  3. Write the words down in your journal. Make sure you label your page “Word Families”.
  4. After you write at least ten words, try to figure out what the words have in common. Write the pattern underneath your words.
  1. Return the set of letter tiles to the center.

Word Pyramid

Materials:

Letter card

Pyramid sheet

Steps:

  1. Choose a letter card from the center. Take a Pyramid sheet with you to your desk.
  2. Beginning with the letter that you chose, fill out the pyramid from top to bottom.
  3. Begin with the letter on the top row, then write a word with two letters on the second row, a word with three letters on the third row, and so on until you have formed a pyramid.
  4. All of the words that you write must start with the letter that was chosen.

For example - A

An

Ape

Adds

  1. After you have completed your pyramid, return the word card to the center. Put your pyramid in your folder.

Word Relatives

Materials:

Word Relative card

Journal

Steps:

  1. Choose a Word Relative card from the center.
  2. Write this word on the top line of a new sheet of paper in your journal. Make sure you label the page “Word Relatives” as well.
  3. Underneath the word that you chose, write as many related words as you can.

For example – circus:

elephant, clown, tent, trapeze

4. Return your Word Relative card to the center.

Word Search

Materials:

Word search worksheet

Spelling list

Steps:

  1. Take one word search worksheet from the folder.
  2. Hide each of your spelling words in the puzzle. Make sure you write neatly! Someone else will have to be able to read your handwriting!
  3. Don’t solve your puzzle! When you have finished, place your word search (with your NAME on it) in the completed puzzle section of the folder.

BONUS!

Try to solve someone else’s word search from the folder.

Write your name at the bottom so that we know who worked on it.

Word Shapes

Materials:

Word Shapes worksheet

Spelling List

Steps:

  1. Take a word shapes worksheet from the folder.
  2. Make word shapes for each of your spelling words.

Word Play

Materials:

Word Card

Journal

Steps:

  1. Choose a word card from the center. Bring it back to your seat.
  2. Turn to the next new page in your journal. At the top, write Word Play and the word that you chose.
  3. Try to make as many new words as you can from the letters in your word. Write them down in your journal.

For example: Astronaut

Using the letters in astronaut, you could write the words:

tan

son

not

start

  1. Return the word card to the center.

Alphabetizing

Materials:

Set of word cards

Journal

Steps:

  1. Choose a set of word cards from the center.
  2. Shuffle the cards.
  3. Find the next blank page in your journal. Label the top “Alphabetizing”.
  4. Write the words in alphabetical order in your journal.
  5. Shuffle the cards before putting them back into the envelope.
  6. Return the word cards.

Dictionary Dig

Materials:

Dictionary

Dictionary Dig Worksheet

Word Card

Word Card Chart

Steps:

  1. Choose a word card and get a dictionary from the bookshelf.
  2. Locate the word in the dictionary and follow the directions on the recording form.
  3. When you have completed the recording form, record the date on your word card chart so that you don’t use that word again.
  4. Put the Word Card chart and Dictionary Dig worksheet in your folder.
  5. Return the word card and the dictionary.

Poetry Place

Materials:

Poetry book or Poetry Place binder

Journal

Steps:

  1. Choose a new poem from a poetry book or the Poetry Place binders.
  2. Read the poem to yourself.
  3. Copy the poem in your journal.
  4. Read the poem aloud to a friend.
  5. Afterwards, draw a picture and write how you felt after reading this poem (in your journal).

Reader’s Theatre

Materials:

Reader’s Theatre script folder

A group of friends

Reader’s Theatre response form

Steps:

  1. Choose a script folder from the Reader’s Theatre center.
  2. Choose other students to work with you.
  3. Each student should get at least one role.
  4. Perform the story together.
  5. Fill out a Reader’s Theatre response form.
  6. Return the scripts and folder to the Reader’s Theatre center.

Sequencing

Materials:

Set of sequencing cards

Journal

Steps:

  1. Choose a set of sequencing cards. (There are two types of sequencing cards: words and pictures)
  2. Shuffle the cards.
  3. Find the next new page in your journal and label it “Sequencing”.
  4. Put the cards in order, starting with the first thing that happens until the last thing that happens.
  5. Write or draw the cards in order in your journal. If you chose the picture cards, write a sentence that matches each picture.
  6. Shuffle the cards again before putting them back in the envelope.
  7. Return the sequencing cards to the center.

Build-a-Caterpillar

Materials:

Set of plates

Build-a-Caterpillar worksheet

Steps:

  1. Take a set of plates from the center, along with a Build-a-Caterpillar worksheet.
  2. Each plate has a “partner”. Try to figure out which plates go together.
  3. When you find a match, write the two words next to each other on the caterpillar worksheet.
  4. Continue finding matches until all of the plates are gone and you run out of room on your caterpillar.
  5. Return the plates to the center.
  6. Put your caterpillar worksheet in your folder.

Synonyms for Sale

Materials:

Set of word cards

Synonyms for Sale worksheet

Steps:

For one player:

  1. Get a set of word cards and a worksheet from the center.
  2. Lay out all of the word cards and match the synonym pairs.
  3. Complete the activity sheet.
  4. Return all of the materials. Put the worksheet in your folder.

For two players:

  1. Get a set of word cards and two worksheets from the center.
  2. Mix up all of the word cards and spread them out face down on the table or floor.
  3. Taking turns, turn over two cards.
  4. If the two words are synonyms, you get to keep the cards.
  5. If not, turn the cards back face down, and the other person takes a turn.
  6. The player with the most synonym pairs at the end of the game is the winner.
  7. Both players complete the activity sheet.
  8. Return all of the materials. Put the worksheets in your folders.

It’s in the Can!

Materials:

Sentence strips (5)

Spelling list

Highlighter

It’s in the Can worksheet

Steps:

  1. Read all of the words on your spelling list for the week.
  2. Choose 5 words that you think are the hardest.
  3. Take 5 sentence strips from the pile at the It’s in the Can center.
  4. Write one sentence on each sentence strip. Each sentence should contain at least one of the spelling words you chose on step 2. (Each sentence must be 5-7 words long or more!)
  5. Using a highlighter, highlight the spelling word in the sentence.
  6. Fold your sentence strips in half.
  7. Pull out four sentences that are already in the can, then put your sentences in the can.
  8. Read each of the sentences you pulled from the can.
  9. Take a worksheet from the center’s folder and write your name and date at the top of the paper.
  10. Follow the directions to complete the worksheet.
  11. Put your completed worksheet in your folder.

Is That a Fact?

Materials:

Task cards

Facts/Opinions mat

Worksheet

Steps:

  1. Choose a set of cards.
  2. Read the sentences on the cards.
  3. Sort the cards into Facts and Opinions on the mat.
  4. Complete the worksheet from the center folder.
  5. Return the Task cards and mat to the center.
  6. Put your completed worksheet in your folder.

Newspaper

Materials:

Newspaper

Task cards

Journal

Steps:

  1. Get a copy of the newspaper and a task card and bring them back to your desk.
  2. Read the task card and complete the activity.
  3. If you have to do any writing to complete the activity, be sure to find the next new page in your journal and label the top Newspaper with the task number next to it. That way I know what you have been working on for the day.
  4. After you have completed the activity, return the newspaper to the center along with the task card.

B’s and D’s

Materials:

Word Cards

Recording form

Steps:

  1. Choose a set of word cards. Remember to take a recording form from the center’s folder.
  2. Arrange the word cards in alphabetical order.
  3. Have a friend check your work.
  4. Write the word sequence on the recording form.
  5. Be sure to return the set of word cards. Put your recording form in your folder.

Word Sort

Pattern #1

/

Pattern #2

hat
cat
pin
dog / ball
head
face
fish

Materials:

Word Cards

Word Sort worksheet

Steps:

  1. Take a set of word cards from the center or from the folder. Take a worksheet from the folder.
  2. Sort your cards into two groups. (number of letters, vowels, meaning, YOU CHOOSE!)
  3. On the worksheet, describe the pattern you used to sort your words.
  4. If you have words leftover, try doing another sort with them!
  5. Make sure you record the words on the worksheet.
  6. Return the word cards and put the worksheet in your folder.

Scavenger Hunt

Materials:

Your guided reading book

Scavenger Hunt worksheet

Steps:

  1. Using your guided reading book, find and record examples for the categories listed on the Scavenger Hunt worksheet. (example: list all of the nouns that you can find, list all of the verbs, list the adjectives, etc.)
  2. Find at least 5 examples for each category.
  3. Put your completed worksheet in your folder.

Biographies

Materials:

Book from the Biography section in the library

Biography worksheet

Steps:

  1. Read the Biography book that you chose.
  2. After you have finished the book, follow the directions on the worksheet from the Biographies center folder.
  3. Make sure that you remember to put your completed worksheet in your folder.

ScienceCenter

Materials:

Book on your chosen topic

Science Journal worksheet

Steps:

  1. Choose a Science topic that interests you. If you have questions about what to choose, try looking at the list of ideas in the ScienceCenter folder.
  2. Fill out following sections on the Science Journal worksheet:

Name

Start Date

Topic

Tell why this topic interests you

List questions you have

  1. Pick out a book on your topic from the library and read it!
  2. After you are done reading about your topic, fill out the section “Summarize your findings” on the Science Journal worksheet. Please list the title and author of the book you chose at the top of your worksheet.
  3. Put your completed worksheet in your folder.

VocabularyCenter

Materials:

Journal

Steps:

  1. Take your journal with you to the VocabularyCenter.
  2. Carefully copy down all of the vocabulary words and their definitions.
  3. Draw a picture to go along with each of the words.
  4. Choose a friend to quiz you on the definitions that you just wrote.

Map Mysteries

Materials:

Map Mystery story

Activity page

Steps:

  1. Choose a new Map Mystery packet and its activity page from the center folder.
  2. Carefully read the story. Remember that you are a detective, so pay attention to the details!
  3. Follow the directions on the activity page that goes along with your story.
  4. After you have solved the mystery, return the story to the center folder. Put the activity page in your folder.

Great Glyphs

Materials:

All of the needed materials will be at the center for you

Remember to take all of the worksheets at the center!!!

Steps:

  1. Carefully read through the instructions sheet before beginning!
  2. After you have read the instructions at least once, follow the directions to make your glyph.
  3. After you have completed your glyph, return any borrowed materials, throw out your scraps, and keep your glyph on your desk (so that it can dry!)

Build-a-Sentence

Materials:

Build-a-Sentence folder

Journal

Steps:

  1. Take the Build-a-Sentence folder to your desk.
  2. Using the cards, try to build at least five different sentences.
  3. Write the sentences in your journal.
  4. Make sure you return the cards to their original location. The cards should go in this order:

White

Green

Pink

Orange

Yellow

  1. Bring the Build-a-Sentence folder back to its center.

Expand-a-Word

cooking

cooked

Materials:

Word cards

Journal

Steps:

  1. Take a set of word cards from the center.
  2. By combining the word cards together, see if you can make any bigger words.
Example mis + read = misread
  1. If you are able to make a word, write it in your journal.
  2. Try to make at least 10 words.
  3. Return the word cards to the center.

FavoritesCenter

Materials:

My favorite…card

Journal

Steps:

  1. Choose a card from the center.
  2. Find the next new page in your journal and label it with whatever your card says.
  3. Write a paragraph about the topic. Use complete sentences! You should write at least 5 sentences!

Why is this your favorite?

  1. After your paragraph is complete, draw a picture of your topic.
  2. Return the card to the center.

JournalingCenter