Heather Finster

Literacy Center Part 1

EDU 280
March 12, 2015

Current use of centers:

Supporting Communication Chart

Learning
Centers

How the classroom already supports:

Listening

Pretend
Play

Blocks

The
environment
and materials
(including
kitchen, table,
pretend food
and dishes,
dress up
clothing,
telephones,
dolls, and a
crib
encourages
interaction and
communication
between the
children. They
play house and
pretend to be
waiters a lot.

They
incorporated
animals,
community
helper
figurines, and
cars in this
area to use
with the
blocks. This
toys ignite
their
imagination,

Speaking

Reading

Writing

The
environment
and materials
(including
kitchen, table,
pretend food
and dishes,
dress up
clothing,
telephones,
dolls, and a
crib
encourages
interaction and
communication
between the
children. They
play house and
pretend to be
waiters a lot.

They have
cookbooks
and food
magazines
available. The
shelves for the
clothing and
shoes are
labeled.

They have a
pad of paper
and pencils
available for
making lists
or taking
orders.

They
incorporated
animals,
community
helper
figurines, and
cars in this
area to use
with the
blocks. This
toys ignite
their
imagination,

The shelves
are labeled
with pictures
and the word
blocks to
guide them on
how to store
them. There is
a poster that
illustrates and
labels
community
helpers

N/A

Heather Finster
Literacy Center Part 1
EDU 280
March 12, 2015
interaction, and
discussion
while creating
structures for
their animal
shelters, races,
or police
chases.

Sand/Wate
r

They
incorporated
turkey basters
and sea
creatures to
initiate pretend
play. They
colored the
water as well
to imitate the
ocean.

Outside

There are
plenty of toys
that encourage
peer
interaction like
bikes with
orange cones;
basketball goal
and balls;
capes for
pretending;
sandbox with
buckets,
trucks, and
shovels; plastic
horseshoe set;
bouncy balls
and a structure
for climbing
and sliding.

Art

They are
welcome to
interact with
any of the
materials

interaction, and
discussion
while creating
structures for
their animal
shelters, races,
or police
chases.

names.

The table is
divided into 2
sections, made
for two
children. They
are able to
interact with
each other
while they are
playing.

The center is
labeled in
Spanish and
English,
Sand and
water table.

N/A

There are
plenty of toys
that encourage
peer
interaction like
bikes with
orange cones;
capes for
pretending;
basketball goal
and balls;
sandbox with
buckets,
trucks, and
shovels; plastic
horseshoe set;
bouncy balls
and a structure
for climbing
and sliding.

N/A

N/A

I notice that
when two or
more children
are at the art
table they will
inquire about

Every bin is
labeled with a
picture and a
word
description of
the materials

There are
plenty
materials that
encourage
writing like
paper,

Heather Finster
Literacy Center Part 1
EDU 280
March 12, 2015
during free
play. With
guided art
activities the
children must
listen and
follow
directions.

and mimic
each others
creation.

they possess.

markers,
crayons, paint,
and an easel.

New ideas for centers (Improvement plan):

Supporting Communication Chart

Learning
Centers

New ideas on how centers can support:

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

Pretend
Play

The shelves are labeled to guide them where to store their materials but the equipment is not
labeled. I would label all of the furniture and parts of the kitchen, ie. Refrigerator, Stove, Oven.

Blocks

I love the idea of writing or posting the letters of the alphabet and associated words on the blocks.
I think this would be a great way to increase phonological awareness. Also incorporating pencils
and paper may encourage them to write tickets during the police chase or to keep track of who
wins races, and which animals are being adopted from the animal shelter.

Sand/Water

I think putting plastic alphabet letters in sand and water area would be a great way to encourage
phonological awareness. I could include paint brushes for the sand play so they could draw in the
sand.

Outside

Posting rules for the sandbox would be a great way to encourage literacy. For example Keep the
sand in the sandbox, Ride safely around friends, Take turns, and rules for the game of horse
shoes. The teacher could go over the rules daily and eventually they could read them, too. They
could also use a chart for the children to write their names on which activity they wanted to

Heather Finster
Literacy Center Part 1
EDU 280
March 12, 2015
participate in. For example they could have sandbox, bikes, bouncy balls, and horse shoes, with
boxed, blank spaces beside them (only allowing enough spaces for the amount of toys available or
the amount of children that can safely participate in the activity at one time) for the children to fill
in their name. There could also be a waiting list row for the children waiting on a turn. Teachers
could use a 10 minute rule for all activities.

Art

I would include Play

Dough. I would also
offer illustrations on
how to use the Play
Dough, pipe cleaners,
etc. to form letters by
having a picture and
the written word
description laminated.
Alphabet stencils
would be another great
idea to incorporate in
the art area.

Heather Finster
Literacy Center Part 1
EDU 280
March 12, 2015

Heather Finster
Literacy Center Part 1
EDU 280
March 12, 2015

Pretend Play
There is a fully equipped kitchen including food and dishes. There are chairs, a table, and a
couch. The clothing bins and shelves are labeled. There are cookbooks and food magazines along
with pads of paper and pencils. There are 2 telephones and a keyboard for pretending to type on a
computer. There are babies and clothes for them.

Heather Finster
Literacy Center Part 1
EDU 280
March 12, 2015

Block Center
The shelves are labeled with pictures as well as the words for the type of blocks that are
available. On the other side of this center, there are different types of wooden blocks as well as
community helper figurines and animal figurines. There are posters that illustrate examples of
community helpers and their names. The children often build animal shelters out of the blocks
and use the animal figurines. There are cars and construction safety equipment such as goggles
also in this area. I have seen them building race tracks as well as using the goggles while they
build.

Heather Finster
Literacy Center Part 1
EDU 280
March 12, 2015

Sand and Water

There is a divider to section the table off for two children to interact. The water is colored blue
and has bubbles in it to imitate the ocean. There are turkey basters and buckets available to
manipulate. There are sea creatures to encourage pretend play. These two children are interacting
and communicating using the sea creatures.

Heather Finster
Literacy Center Part 1
EDU 280
March 12, 2015

Outside
There are different types of bikes for the children to ride. The play structure is pictured in the
back. There is plenty of space for the children to run around.

Heather Finster
Literacy Center Part 1
EDU 280
March 12, 2015

There is a sandbox with many types of sand toys to manipulate.

Heather Finster
Literacy Center Part 1
EDU 280
March 12, 2015

There is a basketball goal and balls for them to play with.

Heather Finster
Literacy Center Part 1
EDU 280
March 12, 2015

Art
There are many bins with labels available at the childrens level. There is an easel for painting.
There are journals that are filled out each day by the children. There is a large table and plenty of
chairs for the children to feel comfortable while creating their art.

**Some of the activities I suggested may not be allowed in a Head Start classroom but I am still
learning which ones are appropriate and which ones are not.