centers

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centers
By Cathy-Dee

I think a lot depends on how you plan to use centers in your room. I use them first to help the students bridge from kindergarten to being in grade 1. They need to be able to play and learn in grade 1 as much as they need
to learn to sit and listen and do other more disciplined learning.
I use them for students who are stronger and finish their work quickly. And I have different types of centers. Centers that are used during the day when other students are reading or working are quieter centers - these may be some type of puzzles, word games, listening center, etc., that students can do on their own

without my help.

I have tons of math centers as well which we use almost everyday during math - these tend to be noiser and more active as groups of students use them.

Then I have "fun" center time which is a combination of the above centers plus a few games, toys like stuffed animals and puppets, etc., In the beginning of the year I plan for one 30-40 minute "fun" center time each day.

I use this time very constructively for myself - I do a lot of my one-to-one testing during this time, I also like to do initial observations - who is playing by themselves, which students are having trouble socially, who is the helper, etc.,