Create Stations....the mechanics

 

Maneuvering the Mechanics: 

If you have a name for your stations....your framework has begun! Like I mentioned in my previous post, we complete CREATE stations in my elementary library. These stations are aligned with the AASL library standards while also helping to support teachers in the classroom by aligning with their grade-level SOLs.  More to come on that later...(with charts!)

The next question to tackle: how do we know which students report to which station and how do we get them there? 

The basic mechanics have to be put in place. During the first couple weeks of school, I plug students' names into a chart I created. This year, I used google slides. In the past, I have used Active Inspire. Other ideas: a color chart with clothespins or a felt board. This doesn't have to get technical. Because of Covid-19 and contact tracing, I like having everything on Google, so if I am home and get a phone call trying to contact trace, I can access my seating charts from anywhere! 

Feel free to use these Google slides below if they are helpful! 

GOOGLE SLIDES to PREVIEW

GOOGLE SLIDES to COPY 

Once the charts are created, we are ready to begin our stations. Starting right away, students enter the library and stand on a velcro dot where they can see their class chart on the board. The chart on the board shows them our stations, and the color station they will be attending that day.  I invite students to one group, station, or color at a time to have a seat and get started on their activity. 

These are the basic mechanics …this can be done in a 45-minute time frame or a 30-minute time. I have another article that will tackle the challenge of TIMING!