Student Success In Math Centres

SUCCESSFUL MATH CENTRES 

REGGIO INSPIRED PRIMARY PROGRAM

Have a clear understanding of your goal. I see children as competent, curious and capable I know that the students will be joyful learners if I am doing my job well. Here are  the

goals considered when developing a  program:

1.    Students are invested in their community and enjoy

      rigorous work.

2.    Students work well in an organized, beautiful space.

3.    Students should be treated with interest, respect and 

       high expectations.

4.    Kindness, patience and time are integrated into the

       program

5.    Knowing and reflecting their interests is a priority.

ORGANIZE  SUCCESSFUL MATH CENTRES 

 A REGGIO INSPIRED PROGRAM  

1.    Invest time to teach your expectations. Students 

       need to fully understand how to access materials, 

       clean up, bathroom rules, movement and how to 

       work with a learning partner.

2.    Provide explicit teaching on student jobs and

       responsibilities such as walking, transporting, 

       clean up.

3.    Label and organize materials so that students can

       easily find, use and return materials.

4.     Put your students in learning partners based upon 

        who works well together. It is important to take the

        social part into consideration. If students clash then 

        you'll have to manage behaviours.

5.     Keep assessment current and use the assessment

        to plan your program including the math centres.

6.     Provide choice for students. For example if a math

        centre is really popular try to offer multiples. I 

        include a must do centre and a choice centre.

             

7.     Monitor the time for math play. I usually have 10

       minutes for each centre. Students finish the centre                 and then can transition themselves to another choice.

       I don't use a bell system or move the children, instead

       they move to the second centre when finished. 

8.    Take the time to teach directions. If the students do 

       not understand what to do they will most likely be

       off task. 

9.    Make sure that you have a drop box for students to

       put finished products if the activity has one. Most of

      mine are games so there are only a few.  

10.   Teach and practice the end of math play i.e.: I ring

        a bell, they finish the activity, tidy up quietly and join 

        me for a story, math lesson and transition to the 

        next activity such as lunch or recess. If for some reason

        I am not ready I ring the bell and take another minute            with my small group. Early finishers have a choice of 

        two partner games to play at the gathering area while

        they wait, Number Flashes or How Many?,  both of 

        these are finger math games that require no resources. 

    

11.    Use familiar centres to provide continuous practice of

        concepts introduced. It reduces my work load and 

        provides students with confidence, allowing them

        to quickly settle into the activity. I often use the same

        games and switch up the challenge. For example, 

        math domino cards may have different representations 

        like number and dot number and another week the

        same game but shapes. No instruction is required.

12.    Teach new math centres in small groups. This allows

        your math centres to run smoothly. You are able to

        connect with the group while playing the game 

        with them, answer any questions and guide the play.

        It also allows you to target students with specific

        skill practice when needed. 

             

Thanks for stopping by,