Frequently+Asked+Questions

Do I choose the workstation for the student?
In my classroom, I have use a management board to decide which centers students go to each day. I don't sit and spend time saying that so and so needs to go here. The students look at the board and know which workstation they are to visit for each color roataion.

How many students work at one workstation?
Usually the number of students is limited to one or two. If you have more than two students they have more of a tendency to get off task. If you just have one student it makes it difficult for them to have someone to ask questions of if they encounter something they don't know.

Do I have to change my workstations every week?
NO! Use the same basic workstations all year long, just add new activities within each station to give the students variety. I try to add in a new activity about every two or three weeks.

How do I choose partners for students to work with?
I pair the students in my classroom based on ability level. I try to pair a higher student with a lower student so that they can assist with reading tasks.

How long do I let students work at each workstation?
I have my students stay at each workstation for 20 minutes which allows me to complete my reading groups.

What if students aren't using them correctly - how do I get them back to using them the correct way?
Reteach, reteach, reteach. Go over those mini lessons that you did at the beginning of the year to intorduce each workstation. Have students come up and model, you model, and go over the "I Can" list again.

How do the students know which workstation(s) they go to that day?
I use a management board in my classroom to keep track of where students need to be at what time. I have four different workstations - blue, orange, yellow, and purple. I have a piece of paper with each child's name on it for each color workstation. Each color has its own column on the board. These names are stapled into place and are never moved. The workstations themselves have pictures which I move down the board each day. This way students have variety of the workstations that they have to attend.

Where can I find more information on workstations?
I learned all I know by reading //Literacy Work Stations// by Debbie Diller. I was also able to attend a conference she led. This book will give you all the information you need to know and MORE!