After our Morning Meeting each day we move into literacy stations.  This is a time when children work in small groups on specific literacy skills.  Eventually I will meet with groups during this time for guided reading instruction, but for now we have been working on establishing the routine and building independence.  One station that is a constant is reading, either independently or with a partner.  We spent time in the first few days of school exploring different ways to read books, including using pictures to tell a story, which helps establish the notion that we are all readers even if we don't yet decipher words.  Our other stations so far have focused on rhyming, exploring names, and learning letters.  We use a program called Fundations to learn letter recognition, letter sounds, and letter formation.  So far we have learned the letters t, b, f, m, and n.   Each letter has an associated key word which helps students learn the sounds. We practice writing the letters during stations using a variety of writing tools such as dry erase markers and highlighters.  Sometimes we also just use our fingers!  Many of our stations also incorporate tools such as tongs, tweezers, and clothespins to strengthen muscles and work on fine motor skills critical for writing.