center struggles

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Home : 2004 : September : 29

center struggles
By carlie

Hello!
I wish to encourage you to keep trying -- centers can be the MOST peaceful time of your day and provide much needed time for small group instruction.
Keep the following in mind:
1.) The more centers
you have, the fewer students in them -- thus decreased noise and other conflicts.
2.) Students should have accountability at their centers -- what can they do to show you they were on task. (ie, a response sheet at the read-along (listening) center or a recording sheet for the letters or words they made at the ABC or Making words center, etc...) There are lots of ways for them to

be accountable. When they know they're accountable, on-task time increases.
3.) Try modeling over and over what you expect instead of just lecturing, Then practice, practice, practice without doing reading groups & just reinforce their positive behaviors for a couple days.

I think these three things are the top keys to successful centers, although I could go on & on forever (I'm very passionate about this issue & teach a class on it for my district -- I love centers!!!!!
Good luck & take care -- most of all - - don't give up on them!!