By now, you should have chosen your centers, set up your classroom for centers, and created a center rotation schedule. Next, it's time to create a plan for each of your centers. This plan will provide guidance for you and the paraprofessionals, as well as consistency for your students. It should also reduce the amount of day-to-day prep work! The easiest way to plan out your centers is by creating systems. Systems provide a reliable road map for centers. Examples of systems include consistent themed content in each center, a plan for rotating students through centers, prepping the center, and training paraprofessionals.

Themed Content

When students rotate to their designated center, they should know what to expect. In the example below, you'll notice the center rotation is themed (reading, math, etc.), and within the rotation, each center has its own theme. For example, during the reading rotation, when students are in the green center, they will work on their sight word fluency packet first, followed by another activity, which can vary from day to day. Examples might include flashcards, a sight word game, or maybe a tablet app, but the theme - Sight Word Fluency - will remain the same every day. By creating a theme for each of your centers, you will reduce anxiety and frustration because everyone (including adults) will know what is expected. This will also make planning and prepping the center quick and simple.

Rotating Through Centers

Creating a system for how your students will get to each center is essential. Not only should you create a system to rotate, but you will also need to think about how you will initially set up and then reset the supplies needed (mini schedules, individual schedules, visuals, reinforcers, etc.). Keep an eye out for an upcoming newsletter that will focus exclusively on how to successfully rotate through centers.

Prepping Centers

Creating a system for quickly prepping your centers might mean you have to invest more time initially preparing materials and creating plans for your paras, but once these tasks are completed, maintenance becomes simple and straightforward. Going back to the green center example above, you will need to prep the center plan, sight word fluency packets, data sheets, flashcards, games, and download appropriate apps. Below, you'll find a list of adult-led centers with prepping ideas.

Training Paraprofessionals

Create a system for how you will train your paraprofessionals on implementing their centers. Then, ensure you conduct routine check-ins to verify everything continues to operate smoothly. For more information on training paraprofessionals on how to run centers, check out Training Paraprofessionals Step 3: Part 1 and Part 2- Planning and Step 4- Training. We will talk more about training paraprofessionals to run centers soon!

Next week, we will continue with Step 4: Creating a Plan for your Centers. We will go into depth about how to plan YOUR center, the direction instruction center, also known as "Teacher Time."

Start by planning one center. Decide on the theme, list the materials you'll need, and start prepping!

Once you plan out one center, start planning additional centers.

Check out the World of Colors unit in Themes First!, which includes original songs, books, and activities that support students’ skill development and generalization with content that’s fun, accessible, and theme-based. These monthly units now include an expanded Social Studies suite, containing fun, theme-related activities that reinforce cultural engagement. Included in all Themes First! units are lessons, activities, and worksheets for group and independent work at a wide range of levels.

Link to World of Colors Monthly Theme Calendar

The latest Themes First! release, Amazing Construction, is now available for prepping!

⭐⭐ ⭐ Tip: Print all the activities you plan to use for the upcoming month as soon as they become available. Put printed activities in a "prep" area equipped with a laminator, file folders, Velcro, labels, and baggies. If you have a large laminator, laminate all the activities at once! When you and your team have a few minutes to spare, laminate, cut, and Velcro. It helps to organize activities in trays by "Needs to be Prepped" and "Finished." Don't forget to teach your team how to prep the activities and to model this new expectation.

Date/Time: March 5th, 2024 from 3:00-4:30

Where: Virtual

Cost: Free

Join us on March 5th, 2024 for the next EBP webinar! The topic will be on promoting AAC use in the classroom. Make sure you subscribe to the ASD listserv or follow the MN ASD Educators Facebook page to get update information on this training and other upcoming opportunities!

Date/Time: May 7th, 2024 from 3:00-4:30

Where: Virtual

Cost: Free

Join us for our last ASD EBP Webinar (formally known as STAR Webinars) of the 2023-2024 school year! During this webinar, Michele Glynn, ASD Specialist, will discuss using simple video modeling, modeling, and peer modeling to practice and promote positive behaviors that support student engagement and learning.

Feel free to contact me for any questions or concerns via email or phone. I'm also available to chat via Zoom Mondays from 7:30-8:00 AM and 3:00-3:30 PM. If these times do not work for your schedule, please email me and we will find a time that will work for both of us.

Use the link below to ask questions about this week's Tuesday Tips 'N' Tricks and/or give suggestions on future topics.

Paraprofessional Training Series

Para Training Series: Step One: Define Roles

Para Training Series: Step Two: Creating a Team Mindset

Para Training Series: Step Three, Part 1: Planning

Para Training Series: Step Three, Part 2: Planning

Para Training Series: Step Four: Training

Para Training Series: Next Steps

Classroom Set Up Series

Classroom Set Up: The Why

Classroom Set Up: Visually and Physically Defining Your Layout

Classroom Set Up: Classroom Schedules

Classroom Set Up: Para Schedules

Classroom Set Up: Individual Schedules

Classroom Set Up: Individual Schedules FAQ

Classroom Set Up: Visual Supports

Classroom Set Up: Teaching Visual Supports

Classroom Set Up: Creating Visual Supports

Classroom Set Up: Teaching Routines and Expectations

Classroom Set Up: Routines and Expectations

Tuesday Tips 'N' Tricks is made possible by Minnesota Low Incidence Projects