Centers

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2003 : December : 19

Centers
By Kate

I teach in a full day kindergarten class with 24 students and two teachers. The children arrive at 8:00 and have free choice time(dramatic play, blocks, computers, drawing/coloring, games...). At about 8:45am we start whole
group language arts.
We have center time each day from 9:30-11:30. Our centers include:
Language Arts (relates to reading program),
Writing (phonics, journals, letter/sound games),
Listening (books on tape, read a book),
Computers (we have 5),
Math,
Discovery (science, social studies, health), and
Art.
The children are given directions for 4-6 centers

a day. The children are generally independent at the computer and listening centers.

The language arts and writing centers are generally follow up to the whole group or direct instruction, so one teacher can manage both.

The math lessons vary from exploration of manipulatives, follow up to a previously introduced concept (children are therefore independent), math games (may need to reinforce rules). The discovery center is usually an independent activity (mostly, unfortunately a worksheet). Again, one teacher can manage both centers.

The children rotate through centers. They spend 15 minutes or so at each center. If they finish their activity, they can read a book, make a puzzle or work on some other activity that is waiting for them--teacher chosen. We tell the children when it is time to move. This is not a perfect system! For some students, not finishing an activity causes undue stress in the beginning. Most children come to understand that we want them to do their best. If a child is almost done at a center, they are encouraged to remain and complete the activity.

We rotate through three centers, go to recess, and finish the last three centers before lunch.
Any work that is not done can be finished during the afternoon (mandatory) rest time. This allows us to assist children struggling with concepts.