Workstations that Work

I have taught first grade now for 18 years and workstations, formerly known as Literacy Centers, have always been a part of my reading instruction. Through much trial and error workstation time has become very successful for me.

Having said that....like I said before....through much trial and error...the following are what I have found to work for me:

• I have a rotation system where the students rotate around the room from one workstation to another. My workstations are positioned around the circumference of my classroom. When it is workstation time, the students go by their last workstation and stand until they are told to start. When it is time to rotate and move to the next station, I ring my bell and they clean up and stand and wait for me to signal them to rotate to the next station.

• My rotation system works by having something at each station where the students can attach a clothespin that has their name/number on it. At the end of workstation time...they leave their clothespin at that station so they know where to go the following day. On the following day, when it is time for workstations, this is when they go stand by their station and get their clothespin and wait for me to signal them to rotate to their new station. If their partner is absent, they know to grab their partner's clothespin and move it with them.

• The students know that they are NOT to leave their workstation until I give them the signal for either a new rotation or time is up. We call this "stamina"...I adapted this from The Daily Five...much of my strategies and techniques come from The Daily Five.

• The students also know they are NOT to bother me at my small group table during workstations unless they are encountering one of the "3 B's"...bathroom emergency, bleeding badly, or about to barf/barfing...

• I always have something in particular they are supposed to do at each workstation...but I also have several other things they can do in the event they finish before time is up. This way they never have an excuse to say..."I'm done!"

Further helpful hints to ensure workstation time is a success...

• Each of the above strategies MUST be taught! Never assume the students will know how to do them unless you teach them and PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE!

• I take at least the first month...4-6 weeks of school to practice workstation rules, build stamina, and learn each workstation.

• I teach each workstation one at a time and then send the students a few at a time to practice. For example...after I teach the first station...we practice whole class and then I send several students two at a time. Then, after I teach the second station...we practice whole class and I send students to both stations. After the third station...students go to all three stations...etc.

• Although I don't do The Daily Five exactly as they do it...I use a lot of it...especially how to introduce and manage workstations...build stamina...and teach the students how to pick a "just right book."

I hope these strategies and tips help you and make your workstation time as successful as they have me!

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