05/03/2015
The Next Step in Differentiated
Literacy Centers
Implementing a Differentiated Center
Program … from Vision to Practice…
2. Challenges
& Solutions
1. Our Goals
3. Centers
in Action
Presented by Margo Southall
Handouts @www.margosouthall.com
Align centers with students’ literacy goals
2. Challenge #1: The Range of Student Needs
- Students Have Equal Access by Completing …
1.Same tasks
Make standards accessible to all students
• Multimodal materials support access
1. Goal: Effective Independent Practice
2.Different tasks and skills
transfer
• Complexity and challenge varies
3.Multilevel tasks
• Open-ended for range of learners
= 3 Ways to Differentiate
Different Tasks Or Same? Making Skills Accessible
Different
Same
practice
visual
challenge
tactile
writing
role play
Challenge #2 - Putting it into Practice …
Plan Step by Step
1.Select
Data-Based
Tasks
2.Link to
Lessons
3. Manage
& Monitor
1
05/03/2015
What Do I Need? Putting It All Together
Manipulatives
Task Cards
3-D Graphic
Organizers
3. Centers in Action - Let’s Take a Look
Comprehension
Word Study
Writing
Fluency
Role Play for Higher Level Questions
Support Locating Evidence for Answers
Bookmark
Clue Cards
¾ Flap Book
RolePlay
Flap book
Read Like a Detective
Bookmark and Cards
Retelling Ring and Story Time Road Game
Summarizing Informational Text
Practice with ‘Round the table’ retell
3-D Graphic Organizer
Focusing Tool
+ 3-D G.O.
Match cards to mat
3-D Graphic Organizer
Game mat + cards to match
2
05/03/2015
Thinking About Stories: Plot and Message
Structure: Characters Drive the Plot
Ups and Downs
4-Flap Book
Bookmark + 3-D
Graphic Organizer
Flap Book
Handout
Cards to complete and match to mat
Writing Graphic Organizer
Determine the Central Message or Lesson
Identify the Main Topic: Use the Clues
Life Lessons Cards
L-Shape
Matchbook
Main Idea Clue Cards
4-Flap Book
Word Sorts: Three Levels of Challenge
Word Work and Vocabulary Menus
1.Record 3 Categories + ‘Notice’
2. Oh, No Words
Picture-cued cards 3. Big Words
+ sorting mat
+ flap books
+ Academic Vocab.
3
05/03/2015
High Frequency Words: Memory Cues
Self-Monitor for Fluency: 4 Profiles of Readers
Word Pictures: Illustrate letters
Comic strip with target word
Bookmarks
Words I Can Read and Spell
Role-Play
Checklist
Writing Center: Build, Expand and Reorder Sentences
Mat and Manipulatives to Guide Structure + Details Cards
Build and Expand
Mat + Cards
Graphic Organizer
Use plot cards to write a draft
Flap Book
Write, reorder, add conjunctions
Revising Beginnings and Endings
Set of Add Details cards
Handout
Traffic Light Paragraphs: Mat + Manipulatives
Practice revising using 1 technique at a time.
“Why are you
hanging upside
down?”
“Best of all, they
have each other.”
*Have students try 2 different techniques,
then choose one to revise their writing.
Cards for 8
techniques
Graphic Organizer
Planner + Transition Word Cards
Handout
4