Book Description

A learning center is a defined space where materials are organized in such a way that children learn without the teacher's constant direction. This book offers guidelines that will help preprimary and primary school teachers organize and manage learning centers in the classroom. Chapter 1 describes the advantages of using learning centers and explains what a learning center classroom looks like. Chapter 2 focuses on organizational and management concerns, such as arranging the room, scheduling the day, previewing and reviewing activities, limiting the number of children working in the centers, and monitoring their choices. Chapter 3 considers the role of the teacher in assessment, the planning and setting up of learning centers, interaction, and arbitration. In chapters 4 and 5, types of learning centers appropriate for preprimary and primary education are discussed in terms of the rationale for the center, the integration of developmental skills into learning in the center, organizational suggestions, and sample activities. Chapter 4 discusses preprimary centers for art, table games, discovery, dramatic play, blocks, music, and construction, and library and gross motor centers. Chapter 5 looks at learning centers appropriate for primary grades, including centers for creative writing, reading, spelling, handwriting, social studies, science, and mathematics, library centers, and "active primary centers," which function as extensions of the centers discussed in chapter 4. A list of resource books is included in both chapters 4 and 5. Chapter 6 suggests first steps for the teacher considering the conversion to a learning center classroom. (AC)