Preparing Classroom Centers helps educators accommodate different student schedules, such as different bus times and early / late arrivals.
What is a Classroom Center for Scheduling Gaps?
With different student schedules, preparing Centers in the classroom means having a rich environment of structured centers within the classroom that include something for everyone that can be used independently.
Example:
A special education teacher is trying to manage their students who arrive on different buses and at different times in the morning. What can this educator do with those early arrival kids while waiting for the later kids?
How to Use Classroom Centers
Being prepared for unexpected situations during a day, such as early and late arrivals, means having engagement activities for the students. Classroom Centers can always be utilized in such instances. Create centers in your classroom that include activities that can be used independently by everyone. A daily schedule of centers should always be available for a typical day, and then ‘reused’ when unexpected situations occur.
Quick Facts
- Child’s Age: 6-13
- Planning Effort: Moderate
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
Requirement
Students need to understand and be able to complete tasks
How to Prepare Classroom Centers
- Make a list of different classroom centers that can be used independently by your students.
- Create a Center Schedule template as seen in the video to schedule your students throughout the school day to use your centers.
- Some Center examples include Computer, Art, Caliphone, Puzzle, Books, Sensory, iPad, Leap Pads.
- Remember that during a school period or time slot, a student may be scheduled for other activities as well as use of a center.
Preparing Classroom Center Resources
This resource was authored by Watson Institute Special Education Consultant, Lisa Plastino, M.Ed.
If you have questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.