Centers and Independent Work - Part Six

Word Work Centers – Part Two

            Digging into the Dictionary is just one idea of a word work center.  Other word work centers might include:

·        Compound Words – Write words on index cards.  Students will combine words to create compound words.  They can then write them down on a sheet of paper or in a notebook with definition of the compound word.  Students can then use the word in a sentence or look for more compound words in a piece of a text.

·        Contractions – Write contractions on index cards.  Write the two separate words that when put together make a contraction.  Students will find the two words that when put together create the contraction.  Students will use the contractions in a sentence.

·        Scrabble – Students will play Scrabble (either the board game or a teacher made version).  Students will get bonus points for a word with the phonics pattern they are studying.  Students will record the words they played in a journal and use them later in a writing activity.

·        Vocabulary Match – Teacher will have several pre-taught vocabulary words written on index cards.  Teacher will have the definition written or pictures on other index cards.  Students will match the definition or picture to the correct vocabulary word.

·        Matching – Students can match antonyms and synonyms, common nouns and proper nouns, vocabulary words with definitions, multiple meaning words with definitions, words parts (prefix, suffix, root) to definitions.  To extend this activity students could write the sentences with the words they matched.

·        Making Sentences – Students select a bag of pre-made word cards.  Students will construct a sentence using the word cards, checking for correct capitalization, organization, punctuation and spelling.  Students will write the new sentence on a sheet of paper or in a notebook.

·        Wow Sentence Revision – provide sentence strips with very simple sentences.  Ex. A dog sits.   Students will rewrite the sentence to create a “wow” sentence using more descriptive words.  Ex. A black dog with white spots sits while waiting for his owner to come home.