Literacy stations allow for a lot of independent student work time. Students have the liberty to make choices about what skills to practice and which activities to participate in. However, teachers can suggest, and even require, certain activities to be completed by the end of the week. One option is to utilize the MUST-DO and MAY-DO icons to denote what activities students should accomplish first.
A second option, preferred by intermediate teachers, is to utilize a task sheet. This would include a list of all the independent activities organized in one document. Students then determine when during the week they will accomplish each of the assigned tasks. Any paperwork accompanying the activity can be stapled to the task sheet and turned in for a grade or a quick-check.
Here are two versions of task sheets.
- Intermediate teachers may use a spelling contract to identify the word-work station activities. Each task listed includes a point value. As students select their choices, they are working toward an end-of-week total. (TIP: Teachers can use the MUST-Do and MAY-Do icons to signify which activities should be completed first.)
- Tic-Tac-Toe sheets give students many options within the framework of teacher-designed selections. Within the 9-grid document, students have a variety of independent and partnered tasks to choose from. Their charge is to complete three in a row by the end of the week. (TIP: Consider highlighting specific tasks for certain students to accomplish before giving them complete independence. )
Task sheets hold students accountable for using their independent time wisely while also giving some freedom as to when they will accomplish all of the work.