Centers

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Home : 2003 : January : 25

Centers
By Mrs. S

I hope these help. We are required to met with all students every day so I have 4 centers set up daily. I also have seatwork as a center so not every student is up all the time. If I could choose, I would have 2 centers
a day and met with the kids every 3rd day but for longer times.
1. When you begin centers, do not do a 'teacher' group until they get down the rotation. You will have to correct behaviors for a while. I do not start my centers until at least 1 week.
2. I mark off a section on my whiteboard for the groups. They all make a magnet with their names on them. This way the ones who get

lost all the time can go to the board and look instead of come and ask me. This also makes it easier to change the groups.
3. I use colors to label the centers so I can change the center from art to listening or whatever and they still follow the color instead of a skill.
4. Routine, rountine, routine. Have the students practice moving from center to center until they get it right.
5. Do not take up too much work. The grading and keeping up with who turned in what always drives me crazy.
Centers:
Spelling (paint, magnetic letters, rainbow words, sentences, pyramid)
Reading (partners, books on tape, silent reading, comprehension)
Langauge (abc order, phonics, highlighting)
Math (any manipulatives)
File folders are great in centers too but take a long time to create