Weekly Contract
Each week my students received a “contract” with ten centers they “got” to visit during the week. We did center rotation for 45 minutes at the end of the day when they were too exhausted to sit and listen. They got to choose where they went and how long they stayed in each center, but the goal was to do all ten activities by the end of the week. If they finished they got “Fabulous Friday”! What was Fabulous Friday?? They got to take their shoes off and do whatever they wanted. They LOVED it!!!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vZDUXcND9hjVewlJLkmdEg3E-25eS7tW/view (black & white)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15ToM6nqTjRomfwH-MuKC9OcskocyIWa5/view (color)
Yes, I did limit the centers to 2 or 4 at a time. On Monday we’d go around the circle and they chose where they’d like to start. If a center already had four people they had to make another choice. When someone left a popular center then they could go there. This really worked itself out. If they wanted to stay in blocks all day Monday they could, but then they’d have to work a little faster the rest of the week to complete their center cards. It was amazing how they became self-directed learners by the end of the year!
Numbered Centers
I visited another kindergarten that had something similar. Children had index cards with numbers 1-10 on them. These were tied to a string that they wore around their necks. Scattered around the room were the numbers 1-10 with something to do at each station. As children completed the activity they raised their hand and the teacher punched their card.
Check List
Another idea might be to have a class list with the children’s names at each center. Write the focus goal at the top. As children complete assignments they make a smiley face or other comment next to their name.
Center Rotation
Center rotation is another option if you want all children to work in small groups and experience different centers and activities. Each day you will have the opportunity to work with a small group, and then they can rotate through 3 different centers.
How? Write the numbers “1, 2, 3, 4” on small pieces of paper and put them in a basket. You will need as many pieces of paper as there are children in your room. Children choose a number and that is where they will begin. After 15-20 minutes children clean up and rotate in a clockwise direction. For example, children in station one go to two, two go to three, three go to four, and four go to one. Within an hour children will have the opportunity to experience four activities, including working with the teacher.
1. Teacher Directed
Phonological Awareness
Reading Readiness
2. Social Play
Another idea might be to have a class list with the children’s names at each center. Write the focus goal at the top. As children complete assignments they make a smiley face or other comment next to their name.
Center Rotation
Center rotation is another option if you want all children to work in small groups and experience different centers and activities. Each day you will have the opportunity to work with a small group, and then they can rotate through 3 different centers.
How? Write the numbers “1, 2, 3, 4” on small pieces of paper and put them in a basket. You will need as many pieces of paper as there are children in your room. Children choose a number and that is where they will begin. After 15-20 minutes children clean up and rotate in a clockwise direction. For example, children in station one go to two, two go to three, three go to four, and four go to one. Within an hour children will have the opportunity to experience four activities, including working with the teacher.
1. Teacher Directed
Phonological Awareness
Reading Readiness
2. Social Play
Housekeeping
Blocks
3. Small Motor
3. Small Motor
Puzzles
Play dough
Erase boards
Blank Books
4. Independent
Listening Center
Library
Math
Technology
Tickets to Centers
Cut out pictures representative of the different centers in your classroom. Cut out the same number of pictures for each area as children who can play in that area. Glue the pictures to poster board cut in 4” squares. At center time, shuffle up the cards and allow each child to draw one. Children then go to the centers on their card.
Tips for Center Rotation
*You can either create four groups based on skills, or randomly assign children to different stations where they should start.
*Use a timer to make sure everyone gets the same amount of time in an area.
*Exercise or do a brain break between rotations.
*Adapt the length of time to the age and ability of your students.
*Have several choices in each station. After children complete the “main course” (assigned task) they can have “dessert” (choice).
Listening Center
Library
Math
Technology
Tickets to Centers
Cut out pictures representative of the different centers in your classroom. Cut out the same number of pictures for each area as children who can play in that area. Glue the pictures to poster board cut in 4” squares. At center time, shuffle up the cards and allow each child to draw one. Children then go to the centers on their card.
Tips for Center Rotation
*You can either create four groups based on skills, or randomly assign children to different stations where they should start.
*Use a timer to make sure everyone gets the same amount of time in an area.
*Exercise or do a brain break between rotations.
*Adapt the length of time to the age and ability of your students.
*Have several choices in each station. After children complete the “main course” (assigned task) they can have “dessert” (choice).
