Literacy Center for preschoolers?

Question

I need help coming up with some items/materials to put in my literacy center. Any suggestions would be appreciates since creating a literacy center is all new to me!

Answer 1

Real stationary, envelopes, stickers to use as stamps. materials to make books. Business forms such as invoices. A typewriter. A picture dictionary. Alphabet stamps. Blank books. And the usual pencils, markers and lots of different kinds of paper.

Answer 2

Check out the Learning Palette from Usborne Books.  http://www.ubah.com/g2687

There are giant sets available to provide you with multiple palettes and card sets for teaching kids the basics on reading.  It is a self-correcting system that kids love, and it starts with alphabet (visual and sounds), letter combos, vocabulary, rhyming words, etc, and also has math cards available.  It's a great resource to have in your classroom, and kids love it!

Answer 3

I've always combined writing and literacy together so my ideas will be based on that.

My suggestion is everything and anything :-)  but of course all in an organized way and rotated routinely!  Always provide various types of paper and writing utensils.  Ask your parents to donate magazines...do theme related if possible... health & nutrition add grocery store advertisements... flowers/gardening- Henry Field's catalog etc.  Provide scissors and glue sticks.  Let them use their own imagination.

I always liked to keep a set of laminated name cards of the children and teachers in this area.  They can trace them with marker and wipe off or they can use them to help them write a name on paper.

I like to switch out the alphabet materials...sometimes I have tiles...sometimes sandpaper letters to rub, sometimes laminated b.b letters to trace, stamps, magnetic letters etc.

Magnadoodles...mini or large

mini whiteboards/chalk boards

You can make or purchase lacing alphabet/numbers.

I have made laminated cardstock stick and curves so the children can explore creating the letters.

I have been known to incorporate a bit of sensory into the center... a cookie sheet with a thin layer of colored sand so they could "write/draw" in it.  Playdough with letter stamps. etc.

Alphabet/ number puzzles...make your own if you need to.

Rotate your alphabet chart.  I find that every two weeks works wonders.  Everytime I put a "new" one out...more interest is there.  Add pointers and they'll be singing one of the songs/chants that you have taught.

Beginning sound/Alphabet containers...rhyming containers.

Theme related word/picture cards on a large ring.

Letter searches:  provide a paper with many letters within a large block letter.  Provide a magnify glass for fun and markers... they can circle/color the chosen letter.

Letter sorts:  in my name, not in my name... and also letter font sorts.

Alphabet/Clothespin activities.  free printables at www.childcareland.com

Alphabet books... alphabet binders... I like to include one binder of alphabet tracers-mazes.  You can get many off of the internet... I place them in sheet protectors and provide markers and a towel.  Some children are ready for tracing.

Book making materials

the list goes on!  I love to look through the Lakeshore Catalog and get a tremendous amount of ideas even if I can't purchase the actual product.  Request one :-)  

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 4

Letters. Give them letters. Any kind of letters. Magnetic letters, letter stamps, letters printed off the computer in all different fonts and sizes, letter stringing beads, etc. At first, they can sort the letters by characteristics (tall, short, monkey-tail, no-monkey tail). Then they can later sort letters by "in my name-not in my name". Class name charts are essential. They will learn their friends names really fast. Then have them do name activities with their classmates names. You are setting them up for writing because they will at least know the beginning sounds of their friends name. Example-they want to write the word "lemon". "Oh, I know, it starts like "Lisa". This is huge. It will work I PROMISE.

Answer 5

flat cookie sheets (metal) and large magnetic letters, index cards.

write in large print the name of an object on one side of the card, on the other side put the picture.  the kids can pick out the letters and spell the words/see the pictures.

Answer 6

Dr. Seuss and Berenstein Bears books are great.  Get a Scholastic reading and phonics kit.  Get some books like "Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom," "Good Night, Moon," or "Jamberry."  f you would like some other suggestions, contact me and I will help.

Answer 7

pencils, pens, writing paper, envelopes, stamps, postcards, mail box

Answer 8

For a Reading Center:

*20+ books - a variety of types

*rug

*2 soft chairs

*basket of stuffed animals

*puppets

*flannel board

*tape player, books on tape, & headphones

*make it a small, cozy, private area for 1-2 children (limit the number who can go there)

For a Writing Center:

*table & chairs for up to 4 children

*3+ types of paper (lined, unlined, colored, note pads, scraps, little booklets, big pads, etc)

*3+ types of writing utensils (fat pencils, skinny pencils, colored pencils, markers, etc)

*envelopes

*stickers

*stamps & stamp pads

*clip boards

*books on the theme

*individual chalk boards & chalk

*individual marker boards & markers

*erasers

*glue

*mini staplers

*hand held hole punches

*theme relted die cuts

*name templates (laminated sentence strips with the children's names written with correct handwriting)

*highlighters

*there related word cards for copying

*small, medium, and large sets of stacking drawers

*NO WORKSHEETS