Can't Sing the Same Old Song!

I am anxious to begin my literacy workstations. I like to make the distinction between workstations and centers from the very first day of school, but it usually takes me about a week or two before I actually start them. This year, with the dawning of the Common Core into my classroom, it has taken me a little longer to get into all of my usual routines and grooves. Starting my literacy workstations is one of my last missing pieces.

For me literacy workstations are a key component of diversifying, individualizing, and providing some quality time with my students. After about two days in a classroom you can quickly begin to see how different your students' abilities are. Rather than shake my head  in despair I begin a plan of action that includes workstations for at least 20 minutes everyday. Students can not sing the same song all the time and therefore literacy workstations are what it takes for them to strike the right note.

I love Debbie Diller's Literacy Work Stations book. I used that as a basis and starting point, but also use materials provided by my reading series and other tips, tricks, and technologies I have gathered along the way. When this new school year started, a second grade teacher who gained one of my first grade students came to me and looked in wonder at how I was able to manage a successful and consistent RTI program for that particular student. I told her having Work Stations was key because it set aside the time needed to focus on that student.

I have also found that Literacy Work Stations also provide high achieving students the chance to march to their own beat by giving them individual tasks that often they like to complete individually. It is also a great way to use any volunteers, assistant teachers, or paraprofessionals that you have at your school. If you set up your workstation rotations just right you can really maximize the learning across the board for a broad range of students. Something you can't do if you are trying to make everyone learn the same lyrics to the same song in just the same way. Someone may always be off key a little bit, but by using workstations from the very beginning with planning and purpose you can help blend a sweeter harmony for all.