Centers and Independent Work - Part One

       Centers can seem daunting at first, but I have some ideas on how to get centers up and running in your classroom.  Centers don’t have to cost a lot of money. There are lots of things that you already have in your classroom that you can use to make centers. Reusing and repurposing is also a great way to get materials.  Centers also don’t have to take hours and hours to prepare every week.  Some centers may continue all year, with the only difference being the content.  For example an independent reading center may have questions specific to the skills (for example, narrative elements) you’re currently working on in class.   With all that in mind, let’s talk about what a center is.  Ideally, a center is an area of the classroom where students can engage in meaningful activities tied to standards.  For most of us, space can be an issue in the classroom. With that in mind a center can be organized in many different ways. Centers could be a physical space in your classroom, like at a table, on a carpet, or in the classroom library. Centers could also be in a file folder or in a tub or bin.

            There are many reasons to utilize centers in your classroom. Centers are the answer to the question, “What are the other students doing while I pull groups?” Centers give the teacher the opportunity to meet the needs of individual students through flexible grouping.  Centers allow teacher opportunities to differentiate.  Centers allow students the chance to practice and apply skills.  Centers allow students time to become independent learners.

            Implementing centers in your classroom takes careful consideration and planning when you’re first getting started. There are many things to think about ahead of time. Here are some questions you’ll want to consider:  What are my goals for centers?  How long will students be at each center?  How many centers do I want?  How many students do I want at a center?  What do students do when they are done with a center?  The more thought you put into planning your centers, the more likely that they will run efficiently. But remember, it takes time and practice for you and the students.

            Management is a major component of centers running smoothly in your classroom. Clear routines and procedures are crucial. Without them, you will be bogged down with questions and issues and unable to pull groups.  Management is a very personal, but here are some things to think about:  Will students rotate in a group? What will the signal be?  Will groups be homogeneous or heterogeneous? What do students need to do if they need to sharpen a pencil, go to the bathroom, or get a drink? What do students do if they have a question?