Hello, fellow educators! Thank you for participating in my blog. As a future teacher, I am continually looking for ideas and activities for my classroom. I would like for you to provide three center ideas that can be used in a lower grade level (K-2) classroom. These should be activities that can be done individually (or in pairs) and will not require assistance from the teacher, as center time will take place at the same time as small group intervention. Examples can be found at the link I have provided below. Thank you in advance for your input!
http://www.theclassroomkey.com/2014/05/literacy-centers-word-work.html
Three very interested centers for K-2 grade classrooms are:
ReplyDeleteLiteracy Center (Making Words Activity)
Students manipulate tiles (or magnetic letters) to build words. Have the students pull out 10 letters at a time from their baggie and then use a few “free” letter patterns that you have chosen to focus them on a particular phonics skill. Then they build and record as many words as they can. (group center)
Math Center (Money Math)
Students manipulate play money coins to count and add money. The students would grab a math money sheet out of the folder along with one Ziploc bag of play money coins pre-counted to equal $1.00. The students will use the coins in the bag to match them with the picture coins on the worksheet, then count the coins and record their answers.
Theme writing Center
In this center for 2nd grade students you can have the students write a few sentences about a specific theme. In a pocket folder provide a worksheet with pictures that prompts the students with ideas about the topic. Allow the student to write at two to three complete sentences about the pictures. You can provide a word bank to help the student make a complete sentence, but as the school year progress, eliminate the word bank.
These are great center ideas! I love the idea of a writing center. This would really get their creativity flowing, as they would be using their imagination to write about a picture. I also think it is a great idea to alter the center throughout the year so that students become more independent. It is also important to adapt to skill level.
DeleteCenters are one of the favorite things in the day of a K-2 student. It’s a chance for them to use their creative skills and play and take a break from the lessons.
ReplyDeleteHousekeeping – This center is a place where the students can use their imagination to pretend to sweep or cook or feed the baby. This would be ideal for K-2 students in a small group of 2-3 students.
Puzzles – This center should have simple wood puzzles that can easily be taken apart and put back together. The puzzles should be bright and fun.
Art - This center would have simple art supplies. Paper, crayons and stickers. The students could draw and color any picture they want. They could add stickers to it. Kids love to color and they love stickers.
I have definitely observed that center time is most students' favorite part of the day. It gives them a chance to work and learn in a more relaxed setting, as well as a chance to work alongside their classmates. I really like your center ideas, as they are kind of unconventional from what I've seen, and they will give students a break from the more academically rigorous centers. Teachers often forget how important it is to include art in the classroom, so I think the idea of an art center is a great idea! Students need to have some sort of outlet to be able to express themselves creatively. There is so much that can be done with or added to this center based on what is being taught at the time, so it would be great to implement in the classroom!
DeleteYes I agree.
DeleteSome of my favorite most useful centers are the plain and simple ones.
ReplyDeleteListening center: Students listen to books on tape and CDs with headphones. I provide activities such as summary sheets that are effective for any book. As the year progresses, I have a checklist to listen to the book, read the book alone or with a partner, summarize, and take an Accelerated Reader test. You can adjust the requirements for the time needed for groups.
Writing Center: I provide a writing prompt for students. Mine usually correlate to the big idea of our weekly reading story. Students write and illustrate their story. Students need to read their story aloud to one group member. The members then help each other edit for a final draft to turn in or keep in a writing journal.
Read the Room: Students are given a checklist of words to find. You can have several word requirement lists to change out weekly. Students may be asked to find and list the words. Ex. 2 color words, 3 action words, 2 nouns, a word they are not sure of, an interesting word from their basal reader or library book, etc. Then students may be asked to use at least 3 of the words in a sentence.
These are all great center ideas! I also think it is great that you base your centers off of what you are teaching that week and that some of the content is interchangeable. I especially love the Read the Room center! This is something I will definitely use in the future.
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