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Learning Centers

Learning Centers. Tracy Jones HaLam Le Jacob Neumann Lee Wright. Pictures retrieved from: http://www.baycatholic.org/Teachers/PK4/PK4_Classroom/learning_centers_in_prek4.htm. Learning Centers. A center is a physical area set aside for specific learning purposes.

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Learning Centers

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  1. Learning Centers Tracy Jones HaLam Le Jacob Neumann Lee Wright Pictures retrieved from: http://www.baycatholic.org/Teachers/PK4/PK4_Classroom/learning_centers_in_prek4.htm

  2. Learning Centers • A center is a physical area set aside for specific learning purposes. • The center has appropriate materials to enable children to explore and work independently (as individuals or with partners or small groups) and behave as active learners. • Centers are task-oriented and there are clear expectations. • The best and most productive centers involve open-ended inquiry. Fountas, I. & Pinnel, G. S. Guided Reading: Good First Teaching for All Children 1996, Heineman, pg.49.

  3. Learning Centers • A literacy work station is an area within the classroom where students work alone or interact with one another, using instructional materials to explore and expand their literacy. • A variety of activities reinforce and/or extend learning, often assistance of the classroom teacher. Diller, Debbie. Literacy Workstations : Making Centers Work, 2003, Stenhouse, pg.2.

  4. Learning Centers • Centers are designed to relate to world of active learners and planned to encourage their involvement. • Centers are a symbolic representation of their world – where they can try out many ideas, rearrange happenings to fit their level of understanding. Isbell, Rebecca. The Complete Learning Center Book., 1995, Gryphon House, pg. 17.

  5. Learning Centers • Centers is a teaching tool that allows teacher to differentiate different levels and to meet different student’s learning styles • Centers create heterogeneous cooperative and collaborative groups. • Centers provide individual and small groups activities.

  6. Cognitive • These centers provide children with opportunities for hands-on learning, cooperative learning, social interaction, real-life problem solving, autonomous learning, and open-ended activities. (1) • "Open-ended activities allow for each child to successfully engage in the activity at whatever skill level the child happens to be," notes Stone (1995, p. 123). (1) • Makes learning relevant, personal and engaging (2) • Obtained through North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. Stone, S. (1995). The primary multiage classroom: Changing schools for children. Unpublished manuscript. • Jensen, Eric Teaching with the Brain in Mind (1998).

  7. Social/Emotional • Learning centers offer an opportunity for children to be responsible for their own learning; this responsibility is the foundation for lifelong learning (Stone, 1995). (1) • Students can build their confidence and begin to believe that they are capable learners. (2) • Increases students’ intrinsic motivation and keep their attention (3) • Obtained through North Central Regional Educational Laboratory.Stone, S. (1995). The primary multiage classroom: Changing schools for children. Unpublished manuscript • Isbell, Rebecca. The Complete Learning Center Book., 1995, Gryphon House, pg. 17. • Jensen, Eric Teaching with the Brain in Mind (1998). .

  8. Physical • Centers provide children with physical engagement of materials during learning for hand-on multi-sensory experiences.

  9. Setting Up • Select centers for classroom • Dramatic Play • Block • Library • Journal Writing • Gather materials for centers (from home or dollar story) • Spacing Around Room • Organization of room • Boundaries • Mini Lesson for each center (6-8 Weeks) • Expectations in each center (I can…) • Model • Practice

  10. Setting Up • Rotation of Centers • Management of rotation • Student grouping/student choice • Organization • Finished Work • Reflection • What I learned… • What I enjoyed… • Things that need to be improved…

  11. More Centers…

  12. Center Activities • 20 minutes • 3 Rotations • Jacob • Lee • Tracy

  13. Group Discussions • Pros/Cons • Benefits of Stations • Thoughts?

  14. Ending • Centers involve student choice • Centers can or can/not have activities • Centers involve group learning • Centers do not necessarily need to involve fancy, expensive, materials • The teacher’s role during centers is to facilitate the learning not teach • The learning is student-driven, etc… • Centers should be followed by discussion of what students learned.

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