centers-combination of activities

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Home : 2002 : November : 28

centers-combination of activities
By pk

I have always had centers,until this year when I took them away. Their work in the centers was playing-disruptive and argumentative at times-and I did introduce them 1 a week for 6 weeks. They had done beautifully at first,
but then I got a couple of new kids who weren't in on the ground floor and really changed the dynamics of my classroom. So now I give the kids 2 assignments which would have been in centers, but they do them at their desks-then if they finish that they get to choose any center(s). Before centers were rotated and everyone went to 3 assigned centers unless they got pulled for reading

then they'd go to 2. I couldn't keep track of who did what because I had to pull for reading groups. I feel guilty I'm not doing the centers the traditional way, but their work is looking better and is getting finished. This way I also know that they have the get the first 2 important assignments done first, then get a choice. I can now actually take a grade on their independent work. It was sooooo crummy before. I feel a lot more in control and the kids' time is not being wasted with playing and not getting their work done. I am in a very high stress(from administration and students)/low income school and need to make the most of my time. I still feel guilty, but not so stressed.