Kindergarten Writing Centers Made Easy: Use my Phonics Centers All Year Long!

As teachers, we have all had that moment. The moment when you realize that the really incredible idea you had for keeping your students engaged, learning, and having fun was in fact a great idea, but also was a lot of work… like a lot. Think dramatic play centers, so so important and lovely and fun, but also, kinda exhausting to switch out. So you keep up with the monthly themes in August and September, but then in October you think, “Well September is basically fall too so we can just leave it”. And then suddenly it's April and your students still have an apple stand in the corner. 

Centers and rotation activities like dramatic play stations are key to creating engaging, creative, and independent kindergarten classrooms. But they are also one of the hardest things to keep up with in the classroom. Switching out centers weekly or even monthly is a difficult task. Even if you think you have it all prepared, there is always something to explain or grab materials for. And then there is the question, “Is this really a useful center? Are my students learning from this?” 

It is all exhausting. 

So I’ve decided to make it easier for you. I’ve created a big bundle of Phonics Centers. It is exactly what you need to make kindergarten centers fun, engaging, thought-provoking, and simple. 

What center or rotation would this bundle be for? 

This huge bundle of activities will allow you to embed phonics and writing skills into your reading time. I would use these activities as a writing center that students can complete at their seats or in a designated area. Once the concepts and basic instructions are taught, students can complete most of these activities independently. However, if you are lucky enough to have an extra set of hands in the room this would be the perfect center for them to help out with. 

What is included in the bundle?

This bundle includes 6 different products that will take you through the entire school year of phonics instruction. 

You’ll start the year with the alphabet phonics centers which include picture cards, letter formation posters, and a variety of worksheet options so that your students can change it up based on where they are developmentally. From there you’ll find options for CVC words, blends, digraphs, and all the materials you need to set up this center for your students. 

One of the most exciting components of this bundle is the real-life picture cards that come with each product. Real-life photographs help your students to make real-life connections. We are teaching them to think of themselves as true writers and readers! We want them to be able to write about their own lives and the world around them, not just animated, cutesy objects. 

Students will be engaged through developmentally appropriate and differentiated activities! They could make a list, write a story, make a postcard, or write a letter to a friend! 

What makes this bundle unique? 

IT’S SIMPLE! I’ve created these products with teachers in mind. No one wants to spend hours resetting a center every time you hit a new season or introduce a new skill. And I bet you don’t want to spend that much time explaining the new center to your students either. 

With these activities, once you explain and set up your expectations once (or maybe a few times, let’s face it, it’s kindergarten), you will be good to go. 

How do I set up a center using these materials? 

First thing first, find a small area of your classroom where you can display a few things. You’ll want a pocket chart, the writer's checklist (included in the bundle), and space for a few other posters that can be switched out throughout the year. 

Then, prep your picture cards. I like to do them all at once. It takes some time but once it’s done, it’s done for the whole year and you don’t have to deal with it while dealing with all the other chaos. Print, laminate, and cut once, then you’ll be set for years to come! 

Place the picture cards in the pocket chart and rotate them as I see fit. This way they are easily accessible to students. 

Then, you’ll want to prep the worksheets. I do this by unit or skill. There are a few different ways that you could do this! You may want to start the year with just one option for students at a time. For example, you may want all students to do the alphabet trace, and then all students to complete the beginning sound sorts. As the year goes on, you can provide more differentiation. You could print and copy several different worksheet options (all included!) and instruct students on which one they should be doing. Leave them in bins or drawers at the center and they’ll have easy access. Change them out as needed and there ya go! 

Although you’ll be moving through many different skills throughout the year, I’ve created these activities so that they are easy to follow and have very similar instructions. Once your students recognize this, they will be able to go to this center and complete their work with little to no instruction! 

How can I get started??

You could grab each of these bundles individually but I HIGHLY suggest getting the whole bundle. Not only will you have the peace of mind that you have the ENTIRE YEAR OF PHONICS CENTERS READY TO GO!!! But you’ll also save a boatload of money!