Learning Centers
"Educators are challenged to provide instruction for learners with diverse needs in general and special education settings. Learning centers are one organizational method that can be used to provide students with small-group instruction, practice and review activities, and increased active engagement in learning. Educators must be organized and focused to implement learning centers." Margaret KIng-Sears
According to the article, Designing and Delivering Learning Center Instruction by Margaret King-Sears, Learning centers comprise activities designed for individuals or small groups of students. The centers them-selves can be physical placements in the classroom that contain the materials and directions (and, sometimes, corresponding monitoring or assessment tools) for students to complete individualized activities. Centers are mostly used in early education however their power has no age or subject matter limit.
Image Retrieved October 27th, 2013 from http://stores.preschoolcorner.com/Detail.bok?no=425
What it looks like
Set up areas in the classroom with labelling cues such as numbers or letters so students know where their going. At each station provide materials for a particular topic or lesson objective that include
Establish Check- Ins
Be mobile in the class while the centres are in action and be sure to establish check-ins. Formative assessment is an ongoing process and is critical to the students learning as well as the teachers instruction. One such check-in may be the traffic light systems:
Red: I need help now!
Yellow: I am not sure if I'm on the right path, and have questions.
Green: Im good for now!
"Educators are challenged to provide instruction for learners with diverse needs in general and special education settings. Learning centers are one organizational method that can be used to provide students with small-group instruction, practice and review activities, and increased active engagement in learning. Educators must be organized and focused to implement learning centers." Margaret KIng-Sears
According to the article, Designing and Delivering Learning Center Instruction by Margaret King-Sears, Learning centers comprise activities designed for individuals or small groups of students. The centers them-selves can be physical placements in the classroom that contain the materials and directions (and, sometimes, corresponding monitoring or assessment tools) for students to complete individualized activities. Centers are mostly used in early education however their power has no age or subject matter limit.
Image Retrieved October 27th, 2013 from http://stores.preschoolcorner.com/Detail.bok?no=425
What it looks like
Set up areas in the classroom with labelling cues such as numbers or letters so students know where their going. At each station provide materials for a particular topic or lesson objective that include
- step by step instruction for the students to follow independently
- all activity sheets to foster learning
- bin/folder for submission of work if applicable
Establish Check- Ins
Be mobile in the class while the centres are in action and be sure to establish check-ins. Formative assessment is an ongoing process and is critical to the students learning as well as the teachers instruction. One such check-in may be the traffic light systems:
Red: I need help now!
Yellow: I am not sure if I'm on the right path, and have questions.
Green: Im good for now!
When done properly, learning centers can have students:
- being more actively engaged in learning,
- practicing new skills,
- increase proficiency in skills acquired, and
- applying knowledge and skills to new scenarios or situations.
- being more actively engaged in learning,
- practicing new skills,
- increase proficiency in skills acquired, and
- applying knowledge and skills to new scenarios or situations.
Shelley Gray from Teaching in the Early Years blog shares one way to organize learning centers using zip lock bags.
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