Center Time Chaos
Many of us love to get creative when it comes to center activities. I, for one, love having my students learn a center then create it themselves. It's all part of the learning process and yes it allows students to apply their skills.
One activity I found my students loved was creating word ladders. I bought the book Word Ladders and used it with them a few times. As a word ladders fan myself I thought this is too boring, and very low blooms level. So I decided to model to them how to create their own.
I started showing them how to make word ladders for three letter words first. They were first confused but after a few examples, most of them started making word ladders and trying longer words. I was really proud of my third graders as they started not knowing how to solve the word ladders to making their own sophisticated puzzles. To show them how proud, I made copies of their work and included it in the "Third Grade Smarts" - my things to do when done activities.
In this midst of creating and presenting, centers can get very chaotic that I can't hear the students discuss their chapter books with me during reading groups. Students coming up to me asking questions, students talking about a show they watched on TV, others arguing over pencils, etc. It took a few weeks for me to figure out an idea and put it together. Here some steps I took:
Each center group had a distinguished group leader to pick the activities they wanted to do first so there were no arguments. (I let my students decide the order in which they complete their center work)
I placed a basket of sticky notes on the reading group table, so that students who had questions for me can write them down and stick them on the table where I and my group were meeting and I read them when I get the chance and respond accordingly.
A new rule was imposed: All centers are SILENT centers with the exception of "Read with each other" where students read with each other and discussed a book using different roles. I have a Roles Binder that each group is scheduled to use every day during that time. Each group would pass it on to the next group as they are finished with it. If a group has the binder they can talk, if they don't they can't talk, very simple!
To help students who have questions for each other, I created the "AlsaPhone." My students gave it that name:) I used different round objects such as toilet paper rolls, empty breakfast shake drinks, and other tubes students brought in. I covered them with colorful duct tape and punched two holes where I hung strings so the students can wear them around their necks and use them to whisper in each other's ears. My students absolutely love them. They love that they are each unique and colorful!
The solutions above weren't created all once or in one week. I actually problem solved as issues arise. The latest being the AlsaPhone and I'm waiting to see how it works. It will take a while for my students to adapt to whispering instead of talking. My fingers are crossed and hoping for better less chaotic centers.
