|
How I Run Centers--This
part has not changed: |
|
Grouping |
I generally have 20-25 children in my class.
I divide the class into 5 groups of 4-5 students in each group. I group
the kids based on ability so that I can provide differentiated
activities for the groups.
|
|
Time |
We have centers for 1 hour near the end of
the day. Students spend approximately 20 minutes doing an assigned
activity and the remaining 40 minutes doing choice activities (including
snack). |
|
Planning |
Each week I plan 4 theme-related center
activities. Many of these are based on our shared reading selection for
the week. Sometimes I will include a seasonal or holiday activity. Most
of these activities are available on my
Monthly Centers pages. I usually have an art activity, an ABC center
activity (letters, phonics, sight words), a writing activity, and a math
activity (usually a variation of our Investigations math). Each center
activity is stored in a bin that we place on the tables at center time
(I bought the bins at Big Lots):
During the Choice center time, I pull
students who need re-teaching (usually Dibels groups) or I work one on
one with students to assess or practice skills. Many of these activities are available
on my
Games to Make page. |
|
Bucket Center
Rotation and Choice Centers--This is the new part! |
| Organization |
Instead of
creating all of those posters with photos, velcro, plastic chips, etc. I
am now using a pocket chart. I actually converted an extra 100s pocket
chart for this but I know that they sell ones designed especially for
this. Unfortunately I did not take a picture of it before the end of the
year but it's easy to describe: I
placed Group cards down the left side--this year I had 4 groups. Next to
each group is a card with a bucket center icon on it. To the right of
that (after a space) I placed 3-4 choice centers that they could choose
during our second rotation.
 |
| How it works |
Each day I move the Group
cards down one space so that the students have a new bucket center and a
new set of choice centers. Students complete their bucket center and
remain in that general center (ABC, Writing, Math) using other materials
until I announce that they can change centers (usually about 20-25
minutes). The students at Art center are the only ones that can move
directly to their choice centers (since I don't have a general "Art"
center). When I announce that they can "go to their second
centers" students can choose from one of the three/four next to their
group. They can move among those as they like until centers are over.
|
| What are my Choice centers? |
I include cards for my main
centers (ABC, Math, Writing) in my choice section too. I just make sure
that the ones for choice aren't the same as their first center. For
example, using the chart above, Group 3 did Math center first. However,
Math center may be a choice for Group 2 (or 1 or 4). Group 3 could have
ABC or Writing as a choice. My other choice centers are:
Library, Listening, Computers, Doll House,
Mr. Potato Head, Puzzles, Games, Construction, Dramatic Play, Science,
Easel, specialized theme centers like gardening, Marble Works, and
playdough. |
| Why I like the new way |
I was hesitant to try this
new system out this year. I really didn't have a problem with the old
system but my district was moving in this direction (actually I give my
kids more choice than the district recommends). It took me a few weeks
to create everything and to find good combinations of choice centers for
each group (splitting up the most popular so that each group could have
one). Once I did I really liked this new way. First of all the kids
weren't in such a rush to get to a center that they thought might be
filled--everyone stayed in their first centers until *most* kids were
done the bucket centers. Once they did move to the second centers,
everyone in the group could go to any of the centers (exceptions: easel
and computers since those only accommodate 2-3 kids but if the kids
wanted to share that was fine with me). No mad dash to "sign up". Along
those lines, I no longer had kids "cheating" and moving other kids
chips. And no more chips to lose! I could tell in a glace where kids
were supposed to be and I could arrange it that everyone had an
opportunity to visit all the centers each week. Best of all...lots less
materials to prepare! I plan to use this system again this year. |