Hello everyone!
☀️Learning Centers Made Simple! Part 3☀️
☀️Learning Centers Made Simple! Part 3☀️
This is part 3 of using centers in your classroom…
Have you wanted to try centers in your classroom, but
weren’t sure where to start? Have you
tried centers and not been successful?
If you answered yes to either of these questions, read on and I will try
and answer some basic questions teachers often have about centers.
Welcome to a center-based classroom!
Imagine walking into your classroom and
seeing students in small groups working cooperatively. One group sits at a
center with the teacher for guided reading instruction. Another group of
children work at a theme center sequencing the life cycle of an insect. At the
next center, students work together restructuring a story with sentence strips.
The teacher signals for attention; the students quiet for directions. Students
clean up their centers and rotate to the next center, going right to work. Centers can be done simply with the helpful
hints we give you here. Read on and
make centers a reality in your classroom!
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By providing a center-based environment
in your classroom, you will be able to give your attention to small groups of
children during “guided reading.” Research shows that this small-group
instruction is one of the primary components that leads to strong readers.
Centers also allow you to teach to all the student levels that are in your classroom.
Your choice to run centers in your classroom will also teach your students how
to work cooperatively in small groups. Learning centers allow you to teach
“responsibility” as students work independently, practicing and
reviewing skills and concepts at each
center.
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Q: How does a center-based
classroom look?
A: Many teachers use tables and desks
against the walls in
their classroom. You can use student
desks as a center, too.
During center time, the desks will be
empty and small groups of children will be sitting at centers throughout the
room. The teacher at guided reading will have her/his back to the wall in order
to see all centers at a glance from where she/he sits.
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Q: How many adults do I
need to run centers in my classroom?
A: Just you! When you teach the routines
and procedures of
your centers well, your students will
learn how to work without supervision during center time.
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Q: How long is center
time?
A: That depends on you and on how many
centers you have
each day. If you have five groups of
students rotating through five centers and spending 15 minutes at each center,
then you will need 1 hour and 15 minutes for center time. Six groups of children
rotating through six centers will need an hour and a half. Remember to add a
little extra time for the rotation of
groups when determining the time you will
allot for centers.
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Q: When it is time to
change centers, how do I get my students’ attention?
A: Ringing a bell or calling out “freeze”
or “give me five” are great ways to call your students to attention. Teach your
students to “freeze” when the signal is given and to listen for instructions.
Happy Teaching,
Lori
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