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WOW! Does she want them to all be different? That is a ton of extra planning.

 I usually have 6 total because we have about 16 students in each class. I like to have 3 kids in each center. I’m curious to know what the 8 centers are.

I do a modified version of the Daily 5…the Daily 6 and pull our groups of kids to read or work with as needed. I always have over 20 kids so adding one more station made the groups a little smaller.

Wow, that’s a lot to rotate through! How many adults are assisting?

Will the principal plan and monitor all of the centers? 8 is too many!

I have computer, sensory table, science, language & writing, book center, art, dramatic play, math, listening, and block center. I lead a group and the children rotate every 20 minutes for an hour and a half block.

Sure. Is your principal going to plan the other 4 centers for you? 😛

 Center time stresses me out…even after 20 years. Please tell me, when you rotate through, do you have the kids clean up before they go to the next center? Obviously, this could be a time issue especially in Dramatic Play, Building and Art. And then there is the volume! Sometimes, hearing the group I’m working with is a challenge!

I have 7 daily, not including my group. They require little to no planning on my part but are effective. I have computer, stamping (where they trace, write, and stamp sight words) library, writing, leap pad, magnets and play dough ( where they roll snakes to form the sight words.)

 I have 8 centers- but the students only go to two M-Th.

For math, I have 10 tubs of activities. They are out for a month. Students partner up and rotate every 7 minutes (I set a timer). This allows students to work in pairs and I pull students as needed for RTI, small groups, etc.

 Each station has specific jobs as well as free things to do after the jobs. When I pull for small group, they leave their station, but then return when they are done with me. I’m able to have 3 small groups during our station time. I use to have more stations, but that took too much planning time and I found that the kids weren’t getting things done (and done well). It’s worked for me for the last 5 years.

 My literacy stations last about half hour. I have 5 going at a time. Students work with their table friends (4 kids). They have a basket job to complete, then if time permits, they can pick another activity from that station. Basket tasks may be a pencil/paper job, a sorting activity, stamping, play doh, etc.

Debbie Diller has great ideas, check out her books. After almost 30 years of K, I have to agree with her…when there is more than 3 at a Center it becomes a party! She keeps them small, so if you have 8-10 Centers you will not have to change as much. I, too, use Centers that are self directed (puzzles, peg boards, play dough, etc). You must teach the procedures of staying there, quiet voices & I feel it really teaches kids perseverence…keep exploring, don’t give up!

 So, all students are to go to all 8 centers each day? That would be a long time! Or very little time in each center. I don’t think that would be effective. I have 8 centers (art, reading & listening, writing, math, science, animals, puzzles & magnets, dramatic play) and my assistant and I each have a group during centers time. When (if) we finish in groups early, those students may also choose a center. I don’t really let my kids switch centers during that time because of the mess it leaves behind and the noise level that creates. They are pretty good and honest about choosing a center and staying there unless given permission to leave. On Fridays we are much more lenient about centers and there are no teacher-led groups.

 I have 4 literacy stations each day ( 2 adult led, 2 independent activities) 2 math stations (adult led- others are paired in math tubs) then developmental free choice stations in the afternoons-

 I have 7, with 2-3 at each. We work in them for 15 minutes and they go to stations t-f. One on Tuesdays  and two on wednesday through Friday — ABC writing popcorn ( where they work with sight words) listening, reading, computers, and teacher

Since I have 34 students, I have 17 Debbie Diller based workstations with 2 students per station. This does not include when they will come to me for small groups. I also throw in iPads and the SmartBoard so students get exposure to those.

I do very much like Lynn with 4 basic centers-know as the Must Do stations (fluency, writing, word work, phonics,) plus I pull for guided reading and May Do stations which the students May Do after they finished the required work. I keep those very simple…listening, library, free writing, computer, play dough…things like that.

 I wrote about how I do my 9 center rotations here:

krogerskindergarten.blogspot.com

We are required to have one hour of literacy stations in my district. I put them in groups of two and they rotate through two stations- smart board, library, star words, big book, writing, abc, letter sounds, art, easel, following directions, read the room, and listening. I am able to meet with 3 groups of about 4 kids during this time. I just pull them over and then they return to their partner. The hour of time probably includes 15 minutes of clean up and a review of rules/expectations

 We use Busy Bee centers. We set up 8 centers, a light bulb table, & a horse shoe table. The 8 centers are 1-2 students at a time. Students only go to each center once a week. The light bulb table is student run small group work, the work changes every day or two. The horseshoe is teacher led work table. Students stay at each center 15-20 min.

I have 28 kids and 7 centers.. They only do 1 per day

Tell your principal to plan them for you..8 is a lot..

 Wow! Nice to only have 20 students.

 I try to keep my center groups to 4 students at a time. Not too many. I have 24 children right now so, that is 6 centers. I have 4 computers which makes one quiet center and I always have a listening center. I use all my scholastic points to buy sets of 4 books and the cCD. A math center, LA center, puzzles and blocks. I usually work at the LA table.

 I set out about 11 center baskets a week-of course blocks and puppets are already set up. Then I put pictures of the centers in a pocket chart and write on each picture how many students each center is for at a time. Students use name cards and put their name by the center they want to do, and when it’s time to switch, they clean up and put a new name card by another center picture. By the end of the week, each kid will have a name card by each center. I monitor closely at the centers where I want to teach and/or assess student learning. Kids are more excited about centers when they feel like they get to choose what to do, although all kids have to do every center once by the end of the week. (I teach in a small private school, so this may not work with classes of 30. :))

 Apparently my students think I am worth more than what Rick Scott does… Yesterday at the open house, one of my brighter students came into the classroom, greeted me with a big “hi Ms. Braid, this is for you…” and proceeds to throw down what must have been about 50 pennies…I laughed out loud and said “thanks Ja’Shaune, this my tip for teaching you?” He grinned and said “yep, can I go to a center now?”

No more centers…. Daily 5, Daily 5, Daily 5. And, did I mention, Daily 5??? So much less work for you and much more motivated, authentic work from your students. Read the book, it will change how you see kindergarten!

I always have enough centers for two partners at each. This year I have 22 kids so I have 11 centers going at once. It sounds like a lot, but once you have the management piece in place, it runs pretty smoothly. I change them every couple of weeks as needed and try to differentiate as much as possible. Centers include: big book, listening, sign language, science, social studies, math, writing, overhead projector, art (easels), computer, word work, white boards, library, read/write the room. Good luck!!!

I have 14 centers that the kids move through over the course of the week. I have an aide or parent with a clipboard moving the kids…in teams of 2…through each while I pull kids 4 at time for reading groups. They move at their own pace so that each center doesn’t have to move at the same time. Since I have more centers than kids, I start them with an empty center in between the quicker ones.

I use:

1. playdough and paint at one, to reinforce vocab

2. easel painting

3. magnet board with various activities

4. fine motor table

5. word work table

6. math table

7. sand table hunting for letters to make sight words

8. theme corner activity

9. chalkboard tracing of letters

10. floor puzzles

11. read to each other center

12. listening center

13. magnetic board vocab

14. computer and/ or ipad

 Trying Daily 5. Lord help me. Glad to know I am not alone

You should do whatever works best for YOUR class for this time of year. It may change as skill levels develop.

Thanks so much for your thought and great ideas. I love this site!

I have 14 students. I prepare 10 centers (one is me :))…and the rest are one student each. We rotate through 3 a day (everyone sees me plus 2 independent centers) I have to change every 5 days. I have a chart that tells them where they go for each rotation…I have to change it every day, but that is only a matter of removing the bottom and moving everything down (except my group) and placing the removed name on the top. It works for me 🙂

I use that method but have 6-8 stations open and we rotate 4 times.

Word work, computers, writing, charts, buddy reading, smartboard, listening, big books, and eventually smarttable (it’s on order) and a group of 4-6 at the teacher table

Right now I have 14 stations ( but have had up to 20 stations before as well) going, with 3 kids in each group. Station time is for 45 mins – 1 hr.Seems like a lot but not all the stations require you to prepare something for them to do. They visit 2 each day so a full rotation will last almost 2 weeks. I agree about reading up on Debbie Diller’s workstation method.

It sounds like a lot, but you’ll love the peace that comes with only having 2 at a center. Plus, if you only do a couple rotations a day, they last for a long time before you have to switch them out. Read Debbie Diller’s book.

As usual,those who aren’t teaching have the worst input-too many principals micromanaging. Don’t they have enough to do?? You know your class and Your preferences best…my choices were always dependent on the number of kids, amount of time, and needs of the students. Usually no more than 5 @kindergarten level per station with 5-6 centers/stations. One being teacher led…Could rotate in same time period or each day…but usually need more small group time with the teacher-that’s where it gets tricky.

Again, depends on needs of students. And, so long as there is a balance, still need whole group-that’s how we teach them the expectations of the centers and then lead to independent skills…Why oh why don’t politicians start listening more to the TEACHERS?

YES YES YES partners! I used to have groups of 4 and it was always too loud and crazy. This year it’s partners and it’s SO MUCH BETTER. 2 sets of partners get to go to the dramatic play/playhouse at a time, but otherwise it’s just 2 kids at each station. They get so much more done and nobody ends up wrestling, rolling around, throwing things, etc. I am happy!

 I currently have 3 math stations during our math block. These are rotated through and change each day. We also have literacy centers where I have four centers with three or four students assigned to each center and they get pulled to work at a teacher led center for Handwriting. The students work at one center each day plus the teacher led center. We are still in the process of introducing centers so this is my first full week using the center model during literacy. My colleague does 8 centers but she changes every two weeks. We have reading intervention groups at a separate time as well as math intervention groups. During the morning after arrival we have explore time centers which offer more choice and play.

I have 10 centers. 2 kids each. I run them for two weeks (much less planning). I pull reading groups, but my centers are never empty- one partner is always still there… I group one high with one low for helping, etc. We do not rotate at all…We have library, listening, writing, pocket chart, math, puzzles, phonics, explore (science and social studies), computers and fine motor.

I agree with Kelli. 21 kids and 10 centers. 2 students in most centers. timer set for 30 minutes and they work silently. My assistant (at this time) walks around to ask students about what they are working on. She rewards on task behaviors. I pull from these centers to do my guided reading. It’s so calm and quiet.

They rotate to their next center when the timer goes off (drum roll). They know to stand at a designated place and then move to the next rotation station. It takes about 5 minutes to clean and move and begin next task. As we do more games/activities in the week during whole groups, these activities will be added the next week to a station. The kids could now rotate work stations without me. I can stay as long or little with my guided reading groups as needed, without rushing to be done.

I do ten centers a week, 3-4 kids in a group–they rotate through two centers a day and they live for centers–play-based, art, math, making words/independent reading, iPads, etc….Though I am intrigued by daily 5 and will have to check it out! 🙂

 I have big books, library, puppets, home center, listening, art, read the room, writing, abc center, computer, play school, science, math, smart games, TA time, and teacher time. My system is simple. They have work cards and move freely. If we see someone always go to the same one, we try to change them, but that rarely happens. The main thing is having a good management system and that they are clear on the consequences if they don’t follow along.

 I am considering starting daily 5 this year but last year I ended up doing 9 centers (I had them in partners) and it was FABULOUS! No assistant. But it was much quieter (because it wasn’t a group of 4 or 5 kids working, just 2) We didn’t get through all 9 in a day usually but I’d just put a post-it note where we stopped and then we’d start there the next day! 🙂

Your principal is crazy! Is she going to come in and monitor the madness and help make sure all students are on task at 8 centers. BTW, two students at a center does not seem like a center to me!!

 I have 25 kids, 1/2 k and 1/2 t.k. We have 15 centers, and 5 at a center. They go to 3 centers a day and I pull them for small group language arts. At this time we have writing, listening, read the room, language master, etc. In the afternoon we do free choice centers with home center, legos, blocks, etc. At free choice the rule is only 4 at a center, but its free flowing.

 I do listening or computer, math, color/small motor, puzzle, blocks, dramatic play, art, writing/printing, pocket chart or thematic games, and sensory on a daily basis.  Sometimes woodworking or music. I only “rotate” through the “work” centers that will not be repeated and let them choose the others along with their group and time limit and only intervene if more than 5 want to get into the blocks, dramatic play, or sensory areas. Sometimes one or more are empty- but then we just do that one again in the afternoon when their “class” work is done. My advice is this- DON’T open them all at once. Introduce one at a time over the course of a week or two and go over the rules and expectations regarding noise and amount of children. I let them know they must “tidy up” before leaving each area so the next group has a nice place to work. If you do it right, it’s less planning in the long run because the kids can help themselves and aid in the clean-up. Also- I go over the directions for each activity before we break for work time and make sure most of them are clear on what needs to be done. If anyone misses the instructions, they have to find a friend to explained what they missed if they weren’t paying attention. Since they all like to be in charge- they all listen super attentively in the hopes that someone will have to go to them for help. lol!

 I do as many as I need to have 2 students at each center. After reading the Debbie Diller books, I think 2 students work best.

 Why is your district dictating how you deliver services in your classroom? I have teacher choice center time, but the students can choose how much time they need at each one, art, math, reading, dramatic play, letter work, writing. My aide pulls for a must do, and I pull for small group work. The rest explore and replay from previous lessons and it is working well without having to keep a timer going and transition from center to center.

What happens when one student is missing?

 I have 7 and they stay the same and require VERY little work from me. I have a rotation chart that the children read on their own. I have only 2-3 kids per center to help with behavior. They

Read Debbie Diller’s books. You should have 2 kids per station! You are making it too hard on yourself changing everything so much…some stations can stay the same for weeks!! Class library, big books, pocket chart, poetry, listening, abc station, word work 1, word work 2, computers, puzzles, overhead station are examples. With 12 stations that do not all need new things each time, you will go longer without having to