I am super excited about sharing today’s #31daysofkindergarten post. And today is all about implementing the Pocket Chart Station in the Kindergarten Classroom. I love this station because there are so many options for students to do, either independently or with a partner. This station utilizes so many of the ELA standards and skills I am teaching whole-group, which then offers reinforcement and practice at the station. I believe a pocket chart station is a must in the kindergarten classroom!
What is a Pocket Chart Station?
The Pocket Chart Station is a place where you have hung pocket charts and students can practice a variety of literacy skills using said pocket charts. This station is easy to implement and does not require tons of purchased items.
What You Need for a Pocket Chart Station
- Pocket Chart(s)
- Sentence Strips
- Sentence Strip Storage
- Pointers
- Highlighter Tape
- pictures of students
- picture cards
- letter cards
- environmental print
- sand timer (This is a MUST and this one is my favorite!!)
What to Teach Students About this Station
- How to use the pocket charts
- How to store the materials properly
- How to use the pointers properly
- How to point to words
- How to match pictures and words
- How to create a sentence with environmental print
- How to use punctuation
- How to use highlighter tape
- How to use the sand timer
- Expectations for each skill activity
- Clean Up Routine
What Students Do At This Station
- Match student names and student pictures
- Sort girls and boys
- Sort names according to amount of letters; beginning letter
- Words and pictures
- Sort syllables
- Match rhyming words
- Build a sentence with environmental print
- Use a pointer to read a predictable text.
- Matching color words to colors
- Word Family matching & reading
- Expanding independent sentences
- Beat the Clock – This is the ‘game’ I use the jumbo sand timer with. One student monitors the 1 minute sand timer and the other student uses a pointer and ‘reads’ the letter names, says the letter sounds, or reads the sight words, and tries to do it before the time runs out. My students take turns and try to beat the clock and they love it!
This pocket chart station is easy to set up and incorporates much of what you are teaching and using in whole group instruction. I started out using just 2-3 pocket charts, but that wasn’t enough! After seeing Kindergarten Smorgasboard’s DIY pocket chart, I had my husband make my own 6 sided pocket chart and I love it!
This pocket chart stand allows me to have 6 different pocket charts with a variety of activities, focusing on different ELA skills. I can promise that this pocket chart station is worth the time and effort it takes to set up!
Have you been following along with our 31 Days of Kindergarten posts?
You can check them out here:
Procedures and Rules for the Kindergarten Classroom
Music and Movement in the Kindergarten Classroom
How to Start Literacy Stations in Kindergarten
The Library Station in Kindergarten
All About the Writing Station in Kindergarten
Computer Station in Kindergarten Classroom
The Playdough Station in the Kindergarten Classroom
What Does the Creation Station Look Like in Kindergarten?
Creating a Purposeful Sensory Table Station
Thank you for your great pictures and ideas for literacy learning stations. I am wondering how long you spend this stations each day. My kindergarten class is a half day schedule. Also, do you also do stations like this for math. If yes, both on the same day? Thank you!
Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments and question! When my stations get up and running completely, I have 3 rotations a day and each rotation is 15 minutes each. Yes, I have math tubs with the same independent practice concept.
Thanks for sharing your ideas. There are several I can adapt to PreK, especially during the second half of the year.
Thanks for stopping by and reading! I am glad you will be able to use some of these ideas for your class!
I lOVE your pocket chart stand! My station groups are usually about 4-5 students and one pocket chart just isn’t cutting it! What material did you use to make it? PVC pipe?
Yes! PVC and zip ties! 🙂
What a great post, simple and to the point. I want to have a pocket chart station, but I’ve always been a little overwhelmed by posts with too much information!
I am interested in finding more Playful Poems similar to the one displayed in the pocket chart. Do you have a TpT product available for purchase? If not, do you know where I could find them?