Before instructing students on how to access centers, let's take a step back and review the previous steps.

• Step 1: Choose your centers
• Step 2: Set up your classroom for centers
• Step 3: Create a center rotation schedule
• Step 4: Create a plan for centers
• Step 5: Gather and organize supplies.

Now, let's dive into teaching students how to access these centers!

After we have our centers set up and ready to go, we need to teach our students how to rotate through centers and participate successfully within each center. How are we going to achieve this? With visuals, of course! Specifically, individual schedules, mini schedules, and visual cues. Visuals are the "secret sauce" to center success! Today, we will review all the visuals, and next week, we'll tackle teaching students to rotate through centers.

We had an entire Tips 'N' Tricks on individual schedules (you can check it out HERE). Instead of taking another deep dive into schedules, we are going to talk about how to use individual schedules to rotate through centers. This is something I found challenging when I initially began teaching.

There are two ways students utilize their individual schedules when rotating through centers: First, students check their individual schedule between each center; and second, students see a symbol indicating centers on their schedule and receive a mini schedule they then use to rotate. It is possible, and likely, that you'll have both options at play in your classroom. Below are examples of each.

Mini schedules are exactly like they imply -- a short schedule for a given activity. Mini schedules have several benefits. They display the rotation schedule so each student knows where they are going, and they function as a first/then visual. Below are examples of mini schedules used in my classroom. These were a game changer!

⭐️Tip: Add a space for a preferred activity for students to do after the rotation (i.e. break, recess, snack, etc.).

While individual schedules are going to direct students where to go, we also need to teach students what to do. Below are different examples of visual cues that will make accessing centers clearer for your students.

Labeling centers with a large, identical icon (sometimes called a "landing pad") to the icon on your students' schedules will indicate to the student where they need to go.

Provide clear center routines and expectations. Before starting a center rotation, go through the routine and visuals. Go over the center expectations in each center, using a visual to show what you mean.

Providing a mini schedule for each center lets students know what they will be doing and when they will be done with the task. I like to think about it like an agenda for your weekly staff meetings. Yes, you go to the same staff meeting every week, but it's still nice to know what is expected of you and when it will be done!

If your students aren't rotating through centers yet, create a clear individual schedule by using individual center icons or mini schedules. Label each center so students know where they are located in your classroom.

Once you have schedules set up, start to create visuals for the center rotation routine and expectations for each center.

Next week will be dedicated to teaching students how to rotate through stations.

Check out the World in Bloom 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.

The latest Themes First! release, A Zoo for You, will be ready for prepping next week!!

⭐⭐ ⭐ 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: 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