CLASSROOM RESOURCE CENTERS (CRC)

A Classroom Resource Center is a corner, a little space or an area in the classroom where reading and writing materials are found. What is a Classroom Resource Center (CRC)?

It is where reading and writing skills are strengthened and reinforced. It is a comfortable, if not cozy place, for students to independently read and acquire content and skill from its collection.

It is where reading and writing skills are strengthened and reinforced.

It is a comfortable, if not cozy place, for students to independently read and acquire content and skill from its collection.

For the teacher, it is where his instructional materials are organized according to the prescribed lesson, unit or curriculum. Therefore, these visual aids and instructional materials are very much accessible for his perusal and for his students too.

For the teacher, it is where his instructional materials are organized according to the prescribed lesson, unit or curriculum. Therefore, these visual aids and instructional materials are very much accessible for his perusal and for his students too.

Why a CRC? Research has proven that Classroom Resource Centers are effective in helping student attain reading achievement.

Research has proven that Classroom Resource Centers are effective in helping student attain reading achievement.

Children who are learning to read need access to meaningful and age appropriate books. By having a classroom library, teachers can easily promote reading. Children will have an increased frequency in reading when offered diverse reading materials and experiences.

Children who are learning to read need access to meaningful and age appropriate books.

By having a classroom library, teachers can easily promote reading.

Children will have an increased frequency in reading when offered diverse reading materials and experiences.

5 Functions of the CRC (Ruetzel and Fawson) Support literacy Help students learn about books Provide opportunities for independent reading Provide a central location for central resources Serve as a place for students to interact with books

Support literacy

Help students learn about books

Provide opportunities for independent reading

Provide a central location for central resources

Serve as a place for students to interact with books

5 Ways to Create a CRC Set objectives for the CRC Understand and articulate its role and function Plan the CRC’s physical set-up and materials; collection and extent of use Maintain and manage the CRC Evaluate the CRC’s function , role and the way it will be managed

Set objectives for the CRC

Understand and articulate its role and function

Plan the CRC’s physical set-up and materials; collection and extent of use

Maintain and manage the CRC

Evaluate the CRC’s function , role and the way it will be managed

What Matters & Who Students – reading level and reading interest Curriculum – prescribed scope and sequence; concepts and skills covered in the basic education curricula

Students – reading level and reading interest

Curriculum – prescribed scope and sequence; concepts and skills covered in the basic education curricula

Administrative Support – approval of principal and school heads; document the CRC proposal and plan for future references Budget – funds and resources; donations; gifts and grants

Administrative Support – approval of principal and school heads; document the CRC proposal and plan for future references

Budget – funds and resources; donations; gifts and grants

What Makes Up Your CRC Physical set-up accessible to everyone in the class Organized in a fashion that children can easily understand Provision for reading and writing interactions Allot a space for instructional materials

Physical set-up

accessible to everyone in the class

Organized in a fashion that children can easily understand

Provision for reading and writing interactions

Allot a space for instructional materials

Materials to put in the CRC Print resources – books, magazines, newspapers, posters, pamphlets, others Non-print resources – Cd’s, realia, dioramas, toys, puzzles, manipulatives, others

Materials to put in the CRC

Print resources – books, magazines, newspapers, posters, pamphlets, others

Non-print resources – Cd’s, realia, dioramas, toys, puzzles, manipulatives, others

Works of Students – exemplars of projects, portfolios, essays, others Teacher Made Resources – charts, posters, flashcards, others

Works of Students – exemplars of projects, portfolios, essays, others

Teacher Made Resources – charts, posters, flashcards, others

Materials to put in the CRC Organize your collection according to: Format Literary genre (fiction, non-fiction, references) Reading Levels

Materials to put in the CRC

Organize your collection according to:

Format

Literary genre (fiction, non-fiction, references)

Reading Levels

Basic how-to for your CRC Finding resources Turning the old into the new Building one’s own teaching resources Engaging students Establishing rules and guidelines

Finding resources

Turning the old into the new

Building one’s own teaching resources

Engaging students

Establishing rules and guidelines

Challenges Big size classrooms Multigrade classes Different levels of comprehension

Big size classrooms

Multigrade classes

Different levels of comprehension

Mrs. Zarah Gagatiga Gurong Kaakbay Xavier School Oct. 27-30,2006