Literacy centers serve an important function in our classroom, allowing each student to practice targeted literacy skills in varying formats including independently, with a partner(s), and in small groups with the teacher.  Today, we learned the basic procedure for literacy centers. Students completed four rotations of activities.  At “Teacher Time,” students learned the rules to a game called Fiddlesticks.  There are many different applications for this game; it can be used to practice skills including letters/sounds, math facts, sight words, and more!  We used it today to practice and review letter identification. To make this activity at home, you’ll need:

• a cup
• large craft sticks
• permanent marker

To assemble the game:

• Use the permanent marker to color the end of one craft stick.  This becomes the “Fiddlestick.”
• Write a letter (or target skill) at the end of each craft stick.

To play Fiddlesticks:

• Place all sticks in the cup with letters and colored tip toward the bottom of the cup.  Players take turns choosing a stick and reading the letter sound/word/math fact/etc.  If the player reads it correctly, he/she can keep the stick.  If not, the stick must be placed back in the cup.  Take turns and continue playing until one player chooses the FIDDLESTICK.  That player must then put all their sticks back in the cup- everyone else can keep the sticks they’ve earned.  The player at the end of a specified time limit (10 minutes) with the most sticks wins the game.

Have fun learning!   Please note, you may have trouble viewing pictures through email.  Click to view on the web if so!