Center time is a great time for the children to take charge of their own learning and to become responsible for how well they use their time. We work every day in our centers beginning about the end of September. We will start centers very slowly. I usually introduce 1-2 centers and specifically model how to use those centers. Then the class will split into two groups and we will practice using those two centers. The next day (or maybe the same day if all goes well), we will switch centers and the groups will use the opposite center from the day before. We talk and chart what went well during the center time and what might have prevented us from doing well, getting enough work done, etc. At this point, the centers (we usually start with the math center and the writing center) may have only one activity in it. This way, all students are clear on how to use the activity and there is less confusion. Slowly, we will add more activities/options to the centers that were introduced and we will also add more general centers, such as the puzzle center, etc. Eventually, there will be 5-6 centers running at a time. As the year progresses, students will be given more opportunities to choose their own center and keep track of the work they have accomplished and they may or may not be assigned a specific center, depending on their ability to work independently. Possible centers include:
Math Tubs: numbers and quantities, addition, subtraction, addition with regrouping, beginning multiplication, skip counting, patterns, place value, file folder games, Muggins Math, and more.
Writing Center: theme writing envelopes (envelopes that are based on a theme and include word banks and coordinating stationary), penmanship practice, letter writing (students write a letter to someone and put it in the classroom mailbox), creative writing, research report writing (students research a topic and write about their findings), journal writing, and more.
Puzzle Center: various puzzles that are related to the California State Standards.
Computer Center: computer games, writing opportunities, etc.
Listening Center: students will listen to books on a tape and write a short summary about the book.
Reading Center: students may buddy read with a stuffed animal and they may read the big books also. They may also create a book, work on a class book, or read previous class books that have been made.
Poetry Center: Students will cut, paste, and illustrate the weekly poem into their poetry composition books. Once finished, they will participate in other poetry activities that are in this center.
Sequencing Center: Students will complete a sequencing activity weekly in which they cut and paste a scene in correct order and write 1-2 sentences to go with it.
Language Arts Center: students will work on building words, matching words to picture cards, creating sentences, and various other phonics and phonemic awareness activities.
Mini Book Center: Students will cut and assemble a mini book each week to practice reading.
Planning centers and managing them have always been a bit of an overwhelming task for me. This year, once my students are capable of being independent workers, I may try something new. I have received some good information regarding "work jobs" for the students. Work Jobs take the place of centers and require students to complete a series of tasks throughout the week. Students all receive a Work Job Sheet that is kept in their Work Job Folder. The sheet has categories for writing, reading, science, math, etc. The categories remain the same each week but the tasks for each category change. The sheet is reviewed each Monday and students have the entire week to complete all jobs. The tasks will be the same for all students, however, they can be slightly adapted to meet the needs of the various levels within the classroom. Students can complete the tasks in any order that they like, however, all tasks must be finished and turned in by Friday. Students who complete the tasks prior to Friday are then free to work in a few centers that generally stay the same from week to week (writing center, reading center, etc). Also, any successful center activity from a prior year can be used again and entered on the sheet as a "work job" for the week. There seem to be many benefits to the use of "work jobs" and they seem to be less time-consuming on the part of the teacher. To learn more about Work Jobs, please click here.
OUR SAMPLE WORKJOB SHEET 1
Sample Workjob Sheet 2