Case
Kindergarten Center Time

As a Kindergarten teacher, I am torn between allowing students to participate in centers daily, or not allowing them to participate in centers to allow for more instructional time. I find it very hard to teach every subject within one day, so many times, there is not time for centers. I do allow my students to go to the playground daily, but I simply do not have enough time left over within a day to allow them to participate in centers within the classroom as well. I know that participating in centers allows Kindergarten students to learn social and cooperative skills, but I just don't have time to allow them to do this everyday. What could I do in my classroom to make sure that these skills are being taught, with instructional time being used to its fullest to ensure that all of the standards are being taught?

Posted on: 10/20/14 | Views: 1183
Solution #1
Top Solution
Try setting up centers on a schedule during the week. For example, maybe only have centers on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Tuesday and Thursday can be dedicated to instructional time.
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Solution #2
You can use peer collaboration, where they are interacting with one person instead of whole group. Also, during whole class instruction, you can have them group up for certain discussions and task, then move back to independent, or whole class work using classroom management strategies. CHAMP strategies work well.

I agree, incorporating both group work and instructional is great idea.

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Solution #3
Having centers is a time for the students to re-focus their energy into doing something other than learning at their tables or desks. I think if you incorporate centers within their daily schedule, and make it a routine this will help you and the kids expand their focus during the day. You can also integrate different subjects together, especially for Kindergarten. Science and Math go together great, even throwing in some literacy with these subjects. Be creative with your centers, and having different centers for each day that could be getting them ready for the next lesson. Centers can be fun, but still have the educational part in them.
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Solution #4
I teach pre-k, and while I honestly do not like center time, I know how important it is for the students to learn the social skills. Unfortunately, the powers that be do not understand that center time is important for this age and add more and more things in making it almost impossible for teachers to implement this time. Maybe you could put a time limit on it on certain days and then other days allow them to have the full time. I normally look at my day and see what activities I have planned. If I notice the activities are going to be longer that day, I make my center time shorter in order to allow for that. I don't know if there is any right or wrong solution, but it is important that the students have that time to learn how to interact appropriately.
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Solution #5
Be creative in the way that you establish and choose your instructional learning centers, and students will think they are playing! Include games that allow them to move around, include play-do to make both letters and sight words, and include puppets that allow them to retell the stories that you've been reading in class. You could also have students work towards "Fun Friday." If they work well and get their work done throughout the week, use some time on Fridays for students to participate in more play-like centers.
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Solution #6
I teach Kindergarten and my "centers" are always learning centers. They are learning in fun ways. I do not have time for students to really play during class time. There are too many standards to cover!
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