Finding Better Activities for Early Finishers

I have spent my Thanksgiving break thinking of a better way for my early finishers to use their time, especially during reading groups. I know a lot of teachers use centers, and I have been doing this. But I'm finding myself dissatisfied with the results. It works well for my more independent students, but some of my kids are having a hard time staying focused. I've decided to expand my student's options for independent writing beyond "write in your journal". For example, I've put together a newspaper template for students. You can find it here.