This January has had such wild weather. We were all tucked in for a fabulous winter storm that left our yard looking more like a skating rink than winter wonderland. Now it is 70 degrees, but we could have flurries next week? I dunno, but Mother Nature must be in a dizzy lately!
Let’s talk about how to keep teachers out of the winter ups and downs! February is right around the corner. NOW is the time to get prepared. Let’s talk centers.
Center Organization
Once you spend all that time printing, laminating, and cutting out centers you want to be able to use them year after year. However, they are so hard to keep organized! SO.MUCH.STUFF! LOL!
I found I was best able to keep up with my centers when I used the large clasp envelopes. I would print out the cover sheet and directions. Then, I glued them onto the envelope. If I was realllllly sweet to the laminator and it was in a good mood, I would run the envelope through. Before running the envelope through, break OFF the metal clasps. These can sometimes jam the laminator. After cutting out the envelope, I would run my scissors along the opening and slit the lamination. Boom! Custom, durable center envelope! All the cards, recording sheets and materials could be stored in the envelope.
of the eight centers are tiered so all students can be working on the same
skill, at a different level of difficulty. Counting all the differentiated
activities, this pack actually contains 19 different activities. The following concepts are covered:
- Addition
- Subtraction
- Place Value
- Time
- Fractions
- Money
Adding three numbers using a hundreds chart.
with two levels: adding using a hundreds chart with hints and adding with a hundreds
chart without hints. Please note all the problems are the same, only the
presentation is different.
difference into one of two different categories
This
is a differentiated activity with six levels: two digit subtraction with no
regrouping and sorting differences into even and odd, two digit subtraction
with regrouping and sorting into regrouping or no regrouping, two digit
subtraction across zeroes and sorting differences into evens and odds, three
digit subtraction with no regrouping and sorting differences into evens and
odds, three digit subtraction with regrouping and sorting into regrouping or no
regrouping, three digit subtraction across zeroes and sorting differences into
evens and odds.
Value-
Comparing numbers with <, >, or =.
is a differentiated activity with three levels: comparing expanded and word
form, comparing with mixed up expanded form and word form, comparing with mixed
place value review. Please note all the problems are the same, only the
presentation is different.
first center is telling time. This is a differentiated activity with three levels:
telling time to the nearest hour, to the nearest half hour, and the nearest
five minutes. The second center is a puzzle activity matching time to the
nearest five minutes in digital, analog, and words.
is the only center without differentiation.
the first center students match the collection of coins to the amount.
the second center students solve money word problems. This is a differentiated
activity with two levels. The problems
are identical but one set of cards provides coin pictures as cues.
practice worksheets to remediate for each academic skill/ center. These would be great as assessments,
independent work, or an early finisher activity. There are a total of 18 extra
worksheets. Answer keys are included
when possible.
