Centers

Criteria for good centers:
 * Content relates to Exp. Ed. / science
 * writing
 * reading (we create it, or use kids' writing to make it)
 * Have learning targets / assessment (produce something to show their work toward that target)
 * Very gradual introduction of centers
 * observe groups at centers, talk about what they are doing, make anchor charts
 * Good center work looks like... sounds like..

Teaching Centers:
 * Where to put unfinished work
 * Where to put finished work
 * How to move from one center to another, and clean up, before the song ends
 * Reading directions before asking for help
 * How to ask a friend for help
 * Noise level
 * Independent work
 * Bathroom routine / water
 * How to use the work board to see what to do next
 * Sitting at a different seat from usual (with your reading group)
 * Where materials are
 * What to do when you are finished

Center Ideas: (related to YA history)
 * Practice asking questions: photos to ask questions about
 * ie. for YA history: photos of people who used to work there, photos of the old school, etc., they come up with questions
 * building materials (photos of buildings) -- where
 * Making connections with what they see to their own experience
 * photos of Walk Hill St.
 * Listening Center of stories of old building, etc.
 * have transcript of text to read
 * Photos of the old school with the new school -- compare and contrast

The role of the floating adult:
 * begin by checking in with lowest groups to make sure they understand directions
 * stress high-quality work, independence of following directions, and giving evidence of having used the checklists for high-quality work

Skills to stress in centers:
 * Compare-contrast
 * Connections
 * Questioning
 * Science / Social Studies
 * Letter-writing?
 * Text talk activities
 * make the words beautifully, using name tag skills
 * Phonics that relate to the content / Fundations (leveled with your own phonics folder, prepped by the leader of your phonics group)
 * Handwriting: find words that start with the letter and make it beautifully
 * Fluency: Read Naturally OR Independent Reading
 * Listening Center
 * Wild Card Center (something fun and creative)?
 * listen to music through headphones and draw / paint?