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Answers to your questions
By Kelly

To collect work I keep a basket at each center. I also thought about keeping stackable trays in a center location and letting the work from each center go in the appropriate tray, but more often than not the work was too
big for a stackable tray, which is why wire baskets work best for me. I try to make centers self-checking, so that the students can complete the assignment, discuss it with a partner, have the partner sign off that it is complete, self-check, reflect on the assignment, and finally turn it in. This allows me to do an informal assessment as well as allowing the students to do a self-assessment.
I

keep a chart at the front of the room and assign one student to move the name tags around so that each student can see which center they need to visit on which day. I have a seperate column for students that were absent so they will know which center they left off on and when they complete it, they move their card back into the "regular" columns. Since the fourth graders are fairly self-sufficient, they are able to take care of the assignment chart on their own.

I generally keep center time short, around 30 minutes a day, one center a day. The students really look forward to this time. When the students finish at a center, they can choose an extra credit assignment, or reading a book until time is up. Most really take their time since they can talk quietly with their partners while completing the center assignment, but must be silent after the assignment is finished.

I was typing quickly and did not proofread so if I was unclear or if you have any more questions, please let me know.