Common Core State Standards
Classroom Environment/Literacy Work Stations, Grades K-5
What a Common Core Classroom Looks Like: http://www.aaeteachers.org
Deeper order thinking should be on show.
The classroom should be language-rich.
Class time should be maximized.
The atmosphere should be one of “create and learn”.
Technology should be part of learning.
Literacy Work Stations
“A literacy work station is an area within the classroom where students work alone or
interact with one another, using instructional materials to explore and expand their
literacy. It is a place where a variety of activities reinforces and/or extends learning,
often without the assistance of the classroom teacher. It is a time for children to practice
reading, writing, speaking, listening, and working with letters and words.”
– Debbie Diller
Literacy work stations develop skills in the key literacy areas: phonemic awareness,
phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Role of the Teacher
• Model appropriate behavior, allow for gradual release of responsibility, provide a
risk free environment and a proper independent level, and communicate clear,
explicit expectations
• Determine the needs, strategies based on various assessments and observations
• Choose materials that match student needs
• Set clear, explicit expectations, routines, and procedures
• Use a management or work board
• Choose a system of data collection
• Using the work board.
Teaching Channel Video – Jenna Ogier (Oakland, California), Guided Reading with
Jenna Introducing Work Stations:
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/introducing-reading-work-stations
Other Resources
 www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy
 http://www.aaeteachers.org
 https://www.zaner-bloser.com/news/using-work-stations-your-classroom