Set Up Learning Centers in the Classroom
As a new teacher, I was intimidated to getting learning centers started in our classroom. Our learning centers time became the favorite part of our school day for both me and my students. I decided to write this blog post on how to set up learning centers in the classroom as a way to help teachers be successful in their centers time as well. I hope these tips help you out in finding how to set up learning centers in the classroom.
Set up learning centers the right way with these simple tips on how to set up learning centers in the classroom.
First off, when it comes to learning centers in the classroom, you need to pick the different centers you want students to go to. Read about my six learning centers in this post here.
How to Set Up Learning Centers in the Classroom
Setting up Learning Centers – Tip 1:
First, pick a block of time that works best for your classroom schedule. For me, it’s a forty-five minute block in the afternoon. We do centers Monday through Thursday. Students do three centers per day around 15 minutes at each center. The next day, they do the other three. So after a week, they have made it to each learning center twice. Find my free editable weekly planner here.
To set up learning centers, make sure to block out an amount of time that works with your schedule.
Setting up Learning Centers – Tip 2:
Make your student groups. I set up my groups with 4 students in each group. Each group has a similar reading level. That way, when students come to my teacher table center to work with me, they are learning on their instructional level. I use the level readers from our curriculum to level my students into groups. Then I made a schedule to help students know their group and what centers they visit, in what order, on what day.
When setting up learning centers in the classroom, group your students. I group students based on reading level.
Setting up Learning Centers – Tip 3:
Learning each learning center all at once can be overwhelming for you and your students. In the beginning, introduce one center at a time. Teach students the expectations of each center. Model good behavior. Have a student show, and then let them practice. Especially when it comes to signing into computers, websites or tablets, let students practice. This will help your learning centers in your classroom run more smoothly when you officially start them.
Setting up Learning Centers – Tip 4:
Set high expectations for the overall centers time. Help students see what this time should look like, sound like, and feel like. I made an anchor chart with my students of the expectations. We went over each one and made more notes. Then we practiced our centers. I told students that after centers time we would rate ourselves on how they did following each center. They could give themselves a frowning face, straight face, or a smiley face if they nailed that expectation. I told students that they could earn a “petal” to our whole classroom reward system if they could get a smiley face on each one. I was really proud of my students. Were the center expectations follow perfectly? No. But the students were able to reflect, rate honestly, and make goals on how to do better. After a few days, they earned a petal!
Setting high expectations is key when setting up learning centers in the classroom.
Setting up Learning Centers – Tip 5:
Students love routines. That is why I believe students should be able to see the timer for centers. That way they know they need to continue working hard at that learning center until the time goes off. They know the sound of the timer, and that sound helps them know to move to the next learning station right away. I like using the timed timer, but any will work.
Set routines for students to follow. This will help ensure students are successful while doing daily learning centers.
Setting up Learning Centers – Tip 6:
Give students jobs within groups. I like giving students responsibilities because they rise to the occasion and take their job seriously. Here are the jobs I use within my learning centers:
Reading Guide: This is the student that other group members go to if they need help reading a word.
Supply Monitor: This person makes sure that group members clean up after their center.
Paper Person: This person takes group members papers and turns them in.
Timer Watcher: This person makes sure group members rotate at the right time.
Give students jobs during their learning centers.
Setting up Learning Centers – Tip 7
On the first week you implement learning centers, don’t plan to be at your teacher table. Give that center an independent activity for the first week. Plan to walk around monitoring students, answering questions, and helping students getting set up and logged into devices. This will help your learning centers run more smoothly in the future.
I hope these tips on how to set up learning centers in the classroom will help in your classroom. Remember to keep things simple and have fun during this time with your students!
Find these great center activities that I use in my daily learning centers:
Independent Reading Accountability Sheets
2-Digit Addition and Subtraction Centers
Looking for other ways to get your students more engaged during lessons? Download the free 7 Steps to an Engaged Classroom Workbook.
