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Centers Make the World Go Round
Written by Rebecca Tanner
Its 10:15 on a Monday morning. The teachers stand 1 to 1, instead of 1 to 25.What is a center one might
up from their desk and announces to their 25 students ask? Scholastic Teachers explained it quite nicely:
that’s it is time for centers. Its November, and they’ve A learning center is typically a designated area
already established all of their routines in the class- within the classroom that provides students
room. The students know what to do. They reach into with exciting and interesting experiences to
their folders and pull out all the necessary materials. practice, enrich, reteach, and enhance their
The teacher goes over the instruction for each center learning. These types of centers are filled with
and reminds the students what they will do if they run manipulatives, art materials, books, and other
out of time, or finish early. The centers starts and instructional tools. Students visit the centers to
things go smoothly, just like the teacher knew it complete an assignment or learn through
would. different activities. (“A New Approach,” 2017)
This is a reality in classrooms all over the nation. At learning centers, students get to learn, or relearn
Using centers in the classroom is a trend that has been material in different and exciting ways. Centers are
growing more and more popular as teachers see how something students should get excited about. If done
successful it can be. correctly, centers can become routine, yet still be
Centers in the classroom have many benefits to each different every day. Later in the article it states, “A
individual student. Through centers, children learn learning center is governed by rules that students are
and practice independence, time management, well aware of and requires students to be responsible
creativity, exploration, and are able to master more and accountable for their own learning. The power of
skills. It is a time efficient skill that give teachers a learning centers lies in the fact that students who
better opportunity to work with students on a ratio of "didn't get it the first time" or need information
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