Making The Best Reading Centers Schedule

Figuring out your literacy centers schedule can feel like an overwhelming task, but let’s break down the steps together! Your reading centers schedule is crucial in creating consistency for your students.

What Is a Reading Centers Schedule?

The term reading centers can refer to a physical area that is set up for a specific learning goal or activity. This is a table for small group with the teacher or guided reading with center activities around the room for students.

Reading centers is also a way to deliver individualized instruction. I believe these two things are intertwined and that is what makes reading centers so successful.

In my reading centers, groups are completing specifically designed activities while 1 group is meeting with the teacher for individualized instruction.

The reading centers schedule needs to be in place for students to successfully rotate through the different activities.

This is what some people think is the tricky part of centers, but I think it is the fun part!

If you are feeling overwhelmed about all things reading centers, I can help!

Your reading centers schedule gives your students consistent expectations!

Student Grouping for Reading Centers Schedule

Flexible grouping is an important part of setting up centers for success. Remember, if it is not working you can change it! Grouping should change!

A year of teaching is a long time, your students’ ability levels change, their friendships change, or you may get new students.

Make it a point to tell your students they will not be in the group forever, and you’ll change things up once in a while.

The two biggest reading center schedule questions:

• How many students in a group?

• How often should you see each group?

There is no one universal answer. You need to determine what is best for you and your students!

I dive into the different ways that you can group students and choosing a method in my Enchanted Reading Centers Course.

Do you want more tips and freebies on running reading centers in your classroom?

Think About Your Center Rotations First

I want you to decide on the number of rotations for now.

First, I want you to think of the number of minutes you have for centers. Do you do a whole group lesson or closure? Make sure to subtract that time.

Next, divide the minutes left by 2 or 3 to start. Subtract 2-4 minutes off of that for reading station transitions. We will get them down to less than a minute, but we want to be conservative to start.

Then, if that number is less than 10 that is way too short for a center. By the time students get their materials, it will be time to clean up.

Also, if the activity time is over 20-25 minutes, it may be too long so students will lose focus.

Finally, think about how long it takes your students to complete an average activity. I think 15 minutes is a sweet spot. I like a 10-15 minute shared reading lesson and then two 15 minute reading activity rotations.

Again you can change this if it’s not working, just make a decision. GO! Write it down right now before moving on!

Groups for Your Reading Workshop

Now that you know the number of rotations for your centers, we can think about grouping.

Remember, the less groups you have, the more often you can see students in your teacher group.

However, smaller groups can brings behavior challenges if too many kids are doing one center activity at a time.

So think, would you rather have 4 groups with 5 students in each or 3 groups with 6 or 7 in each? Which works best for your visions for centers?

I really hope that this helps you when planning out your reading centers schedule. Please reach out to me with any questions!

Come learn with me in my Enchanted Reading Centers Course where I show you how to make the perfect reading rotations for your classroom!

Looking for more information on reading centers? Check out these blog posts!

Facilitating effective reading centers

Tips and Tricks for Reading Center Management

Teaching Reading Center Routines