AR Sharing Process

Achieving quality small group instruction time 

through the management of literacy centers.

My review of literature focused on the concepts of literacy centers and small group instruction.  Ideally, I want to gain more quality time instructing small groups while the rest of my class is independently engaged in various literacy concepts.  However, at the kindergarten level it can be difficult for children to remain focused and independent during this time.  The question guiding my research is: How can I keep the rest of the class responsibly engaged in meaningful learning while I am working with small groups? 

Through my research on managing literacy centers, some of the things I have learned are: the importance of building a caring classroom community, creating a safe and welcoming environment, providing children with choice, allowing time for children to make personal connections, making expectations fair and attainable, and allowing time at the end to share.  These are just a few of the important features to think about when implementing literacy centers, however, my research has listed a plethora of other ideas to help making literacy centers successful.  As a result of the review of literature, I have made several changes on how I implement literacy centers in my classroom.  I have taken time and will continue to build a kind, caring and compassionate classroom community.  I have created little “learning centers” in my classroom where my students will spend their time learning independently in a safe and welcoming space.  I have set up the learning areas in an organized manner where the children have 6-8 activities to choose from, which offers various modalities of learning (visual, kinesthetic, auditory etc.)  I am in the process of giving the children time to explore the materials connect personally with each other and the activities at each center.  I have made my expectations very clear for each student and my students have made their learning goals evident.  The one area that I have been struggling with is allowing time at the end of center time to share.  This is an area where I need to focus more on to get the full benefit of implementing literacy centers.  My students have been building their center stamina and have been learning how to handle conflicts when they arise.

Throughout the next few weeks I will do a better job at allowing time at the end of literacy centers for the children to share so they can examine and discuss what they are learning at each of their centers.  This will give each of us the opportunity to celebrate one another’s work and accomplishments.  This will also give me time to informally assess what knowledge the children are acquiring.

As a result of the beginning phase of implementing my action research, my questions are as follows:

• What tools can I use to gauge how students are engaged?
• What tools can I use to gauge how my students are making their learning meaningful?