GenericWorkCenterdocumentGenericWorkCentersEveryclassroomcanhavedefinedareaswherestudentsgotoworkindividually,inpairs,orinsmallgroups.Thesegenericworkcenterscanbefloorspace,tables,orcounterspaces.Acentercanalsobeportable,withallneededmaterialsonacart.Becauseeveryclassroomisunique,youmustkeepinmindflowoffoottrafficandspaceusagewhensettingupyourworkcenters.Placecentersforquietactivitiesnearindividualandsmallgroupwork.Provideprivatespaceseveniftheyarejustthree-sectioncardboarddividerssetontablestoalleviatedistractions.OrganizingWorkCentersTobeeffectivelearningspaces,workcentersmustbeorganized.Teachersmightsetupthecenters,butstudentsmustunderstandthattheyareexpectedtokeeptheareasneatandorganized.•Providesuppliesneededtoperformtasks.Addnewsupplieswhenneededorfornewactivities.•Usesturdystoragecontainerswithlabels.Filefolders,envelopes,plasticbaggies,andsmallcardboardboxescankeepthingstidyandeasytofind.•Labelandcolor-codeallmaterialsaccordingtotheinstructionlevelsorgroupingsofyourstudents.•Copyactivitiesonindexcardsorfilefoldersandlaminatethem.Mountpictureandwordcardsonconstructionpapertoattractstudents’attention.•Planwherestudentswillstoreunfinishedtasksandcompletedprojects.EmpoweringStudentsPreparestudentstousetheirworkcentersandtoberesponsibleandcourteous.Teachthemhowtouseartsuppliesandtoolssafely.Modelproperhandlingoftaperecorders,CDs,computers,andothertechnology.Establishproceduresforstudentstosolveproblemssuchas:•WhatdoIdoifsomethingdoesn’twork?•WhatdoIdoifIdon’tunderstandsomething?•WhatshouldIdowhenIfinishmywork?•WhomshouldIaskforhelp?•HowdoIcleanupmyworkareaforthenextstudent?•Howdowedecidewhogoesfirstwhenweworkinpairsorinagroup?RecognizingAccountabilityTeacherscanuseworkcenterstoassessstudentprogressandmastery.Workcentersgivestudentstheopportunitytopracticeandreinforcetheirskillswhilestayingengagedacademically.Helpstudentsrecognizetheircenterworkasmeaningfulandanopportunitytolearn.Duringworkcentertime,circulateintheclassroomto•Monitorstudents’wor...
