Small room for centers

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Home : 2001 : November : 27

Small room for centers
By Sue

Hey Elaine,

I am starting up my centers after moving and I also have a small room (We should have a contest on one of these boards). If my students weren't in groups there would be no room to walk.

I bought tubs with
lids at Dollar General before school started for, $1.00 each. They are medium-sized and kind of clear so I can see what is in them.
I have math flash cards in one, writing prompts, stamps, manipulatives, etc. I keep them on a bookcase. When it is center time, I rotate my groups (One group leaves to read aloud to Kindergarten) through the centers. And someone from each group picks up their

tub.

I also store Pogs, beans, macaroni, etc in them.

I am working on making instruction cards that I can change out when I want to change my objective.(Hello? Do I have time for that? - No....)

I also know of teachers who use discarded hospital surgical trays (gasp!) as trays for puzzles, games. They just stack up. You could probably use cookie sheets or copy paper lids. I like the pizza box idea, but I don't think that I have a shelf that is deep enough to hold them without jutting out. However, I like the FREE idea.

For management, I award groups who are quietest (quickest, cleanest, whatever mood I am in) back to their desks with stickers. It really works. And, if things get noisy, I say a "secret" word in my regular tone of voice. Those who hear me get to be first in line, outside 5 minutes earlier, again whatever. Variety is the spice of life. My kids love it and it really makes them pay attention.