I went to see Donna Gordon for a workshop and took these pictures. If she is close to you, I suggest that you go to her workshop. The workshop was on Literacy Centers.



Here I am with Donna Gordon. Her site is currently down, but will hopefully have it up sometime next year. Her site is http://www.donnagordon.com
Donna has taken alphabet cards and glued them to construction paper and then she laminated them. Under the cards, she has put high frequency words.


Here are things that she does in her centers. The yellow sheet is focusing on the blend "ch." Children are instructed to find "ch" in magazines. The pink construction paper on top is a flip/flap book. This particular book was on shapes.

Here is what the outside looks like.


She also makes individual clipboards for each student. This is made from very sturdy cardboard and an "acco" clip. These are found at any office supply store.


These are some of the portable centers that she has. These fold down to almost nothing. They are found at The Container Store. (1-888- CONTAINER) They come in many sizes like this one and small sizes like a pencil holder.


Here are some easy ways to work on fine motor control. I have seen some that use an entire folder, but this seems to save a little space.


Here is a "Personal Workstation." Donna has taken a colored file folder placed it flat and attached a desk/name plate to the outside. This is what is in the inside. Also on the outside, she has written things that are important. The child's first and last name and their address. I was also thinking that I would add their phone numbers too.

Here she has made a personal pocket chart. She has taken two folders. She cut one up into 1/2 inch strips and taped the ends. Then she laminated the whole thing and used a razor blade to open the "pockets."


The flat sheet on the table is called a " Lightening Report." She puts ten of these projects out for the kids. Some do ten of the same project, some do one project very well. She suggested that you could make recommendations as to what they could do their reports on. The possibilities are endless.


This is a center that the kids match different fonts to their own writing. She referred to it as "Patchwork Words."


Donna has transformed a plain simple manila envelope, to a center. She photocopied some books she had, cut apart the text from the picture and had the kids match the text and picture to those in the books. Reading recovery does something similar to that, but just matching the text.

I had a great time. She is very enthusiastic and very personal. If you have more questions about something please feel free to email me, I love getting mail!
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