Learning Centers - 3 Helpful Threads
From the NEW Learning Centers Chatboard http://teachers.net/projects/centers

Rene posted:
Need Ideas for 4th Grade Learning Centers-I am a new teacher and I will be teaching 4th grade. If anyone has some ideas for learning centers I would greatly appreciate them.

Barbara Gruber responded:
Center management and center content are different issues.

Management--just a few questions to consider:

1. At the end of a week or month do you want all kids to have rotated thru the same centers?
2. Do you want centers to offer enrichment for the "I'm done" kids?
3. Do you want to use centers prescriptively so some kids are required to do more than others?
4. Do you want centers to be assigned, free choice or a mix of both?

Content--just a few considerations:

1. Do centers provide extension and enrichment of the curriculum?
2. Are centers not related to the curriculum?
3. Do centers provide practice and review?
4. Is content leveled?

Thinking about these issues may help you end up with centers that work well for you. My best advice for you is to start slow...you'll learn as you go what works best and you'll find ways to streamline center management so you don't have to bring a sleeping bag to school and live there. Centers should not create work for teachers.

Take It to Your Seat Language Arts Centers: Grades 4-6
by Evan-Moor

Posted by ms j
I just bought this book for grades 4-6 today. It cost me $19.99. It's great for people who aren't creative or don't want to spend a lot of time to create centers.

It's in color and all you have to do is cut out the task cards and laminate them. Place them in a folder and your center is made. A cover for the folder is included for each center and is also in color.

The downside is that it seems to be more for independent work than for partners or small groups.

Posted by Stumped:
I've been reading that many of you keep your center materials in tubs, pulling them off a shelf as needed. I bought a few tubs and made a nice ABC center. But now I don't which others to make. Early childhood teachers, what centers do you put into containers?

Phyllis responded:
I have taught K-6th grades. All of my centers are in plastic shoe boxes. I use the book

What Are the Other Kids Doing While You Teach Small Groups?
by Donna Marriott

I make copies of (for example) a story map. I place the story map, a book, a tape of the book and directions in the tub. I label the tub on the outside so it is easy to find.

I make copies of (for example) a story map. I place the story map, a book, a tape of the book and directions in the tub. I label the tub on the outside so it is easy to find.

I place items of various kinds in tubs. Kids can sort them, make venn diagrams with them, invent things- the directions are in the box. Most of the time I tell them what I want. They do not choose unless it is a highly motivated child.

• I have supplies to make a popsicle stick puppet in a tub along with directions (a book on puppet making).
• I have copies of fairy tales in a tub laminated along with pieces or pictures of the characters of the fairy tales I have copied onto colored paper and laminated. I attach magnetic tape to the back of each piece. They use my desk which is metal to retell the story to their friend.
• I have words to go along with a theme or unit. Students use to write stories, place in abc order.
• I have clocks and time cards they have to set the clock correctly.
• I have tangrams and patterns.
• I have attribute blocks with patterns.
• I have map puzzles in tubs.
• I have math fact cards.
• I have two Battleship games from The Dollar Tree.
• I have magnetic letters for make a word.
• I have stamps of letters for them to stamp their spelling words.
• I have word stamps, number stamps (use for math problems), I have money stamps, etc.