Hi Niepodam,

Can I tell you about my first shot at literacy centers?

Picture this: hours spent cutting, laminating, and organizing (with a Pinterest-perfect vision in mind) only to watch it all unravel into… utter chaos.

My students didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to guide them. And by the end of the day? Let’s just say I was rethinking my life choices.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing: I was doing the most when I needed to do a lot less—just smarter.

My turning point? Watching a seasoned teacher run literacy centers like a pro. She shared her secrets, and they changed everything.

But what if you don’t have a “literacy center guru” down the hall? Enter MeQuel Bolden.

In this week’s podcast, MeQuel (a classroom whisperer in Washington D.C.) shares her top secrets to make literacy centers your favorite time of day.

Click here to listen and walk away with practical strategies you can use right away.

Here’s one of my favorite tips to try:

Use routines to make center transitions smooth and seamless. When students know exactly what to do and what’s expected, centers run like clockwork.

One easy way to build consistency? Try a pocket chart system for center rotations.

We’ve even got this print-and-go literacy center pocket chart in The Science of Reading Formula membership vault to help you get started. It’s simple to set up and ensures every student knows exactly where to go next.