Changing up the topic choices each month in the writing center is an easy way to hold students’ interests and keep them engaged.  Instead of writing the ideas by hand or worrying about storing a poster that you have written the prompts on, print out this article.  Cut out the writing prompt section and glue
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As more and more teachers strive to introduce the concept of centers in their classrooms, the nitty gritty details about what to include and where to include it can be overwhelming. If you are excited to start a writing workshop center in your classroom, but are not sure what you need or where to begin,
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Idea by Heather, 2nd Grade Teacher, Secaucus, NJ To organize classroom centers, I use a cart that stores five separate plastic drawer organizers. I fill each drawer with everything needed for a particular center.

Idea by Ann, 2nd Grade Teacher, Brunswick, GA During the summer I love to hit the yard sales for the old board games. They’re a great tool for teaching skills related to game playing as well as for offering practice in critical and creative thinking abilities. In addition, many of the games can be differentiated
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Idea by Paula, a 2nd Grade Teacher, in Bethel, MO. Each year, I set up and maintain five workstations: computer, listening, spelling, writing and phonics.  I stock the stations with online computer reading activities, writing prompts, graphic organizers and Really Good Stuff® learning games. I change the activities in the stations on a weekly, unit
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Idea by KT, a Teacher, in Mossville, IL. To keep my learning centers organized, I bought a garment rack on wheels (less than $20) along with several trouser hangers (the kind with the clips).  I use the rack to hang self-sealing plastic bags full of index cards, manila envelopes of worksheets and entire pocket charts
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Idea by Laura, a 1st and 2nd Grade Teacher, in Windsor Locks, CT. To organize my reading groups and centers, I use colored file folders and Really Good Stuff® primary colored boxes.  I tape an easily recognizable symbol or icon representing each center to the front of its box. The same icon appears on my
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After you set up your writing center, you may need some ideas as to what to include for activities. Poetry is the perfect answer to your activity woes. Try some of the teacher-submitted poetry activities below to get you started. As always, our teachers have some really good ideas!

by Jennifer Ayers, Guest Blogger RTI.  Grade Level Planning. Professional Development.  Faculty Book Study.  New Math Program.  De-cluttering.  Lesson Plans.  Bus Duty. Migraine yet?  Teachers could go on and on with the list of things that we all have to do to keep our classrooms ship-shape.  And work stations were not even mentioned.  Here is
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We have talked extensively about finding ways to engage our students as readers, mathematicians, scientists, and explorers.  Writing is naturally woven into those roles that students take on, but do those activities truly prepare them to become writers?  As teachers, we must look beyond the dry list of objectives that must be met and embrace
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