I have found great success with math centers; so this year, I intend to implement reading centers. My students enjoy working in small groups, getting tailored instruction from me and tackling challenging work in at least one of their centers. One center always involves technology.
The district I work in is a good size, with 12 elementary school, 5 middle schools and 3 high schools.
The school I teach in reflects my district, where my students are diverse in ethnicity and diverse in level of preparedness, but all are willing to try and learn new skills. I am one of 5 third grade teachers and the number of students who come to our school keeps growing.
My school and students live in an urban community that boasts a mixed socioeconomic background ranging from doctors and lawyers to day laborers. Additionally, our city is not far from New York City and several colleges/universities are within easy reach. Finally, my students are always interested in the lasted technology, so utilizing iPads or desktops helps me get some needed content support through some great educational programs.
My Project
I have found my third graders respond well to centers because they involve small group activities. These small groups gives them an opportunity to help one another with the work.
One of the centers is always technology related. For example, for math centers, the students must go on Dreambox or Fastmath and complete a lesson. I intend to implement reading centers this year, so I will have students logging onto Razkids to listen to books and answer the comprehension questions afterwards. The requested headphones will allow the students on the iPads or desktops to concentrate on their work and not be distracted by others and the students in other centers will not be distracted by the sounds from the students working on iPads or computers.
Additionally, I would leave three headphones attached to the three classroom desktops to allow students to work the computers first thing in the morning for morning work. Students can work on math or daily oral language on a rotating basis.
The use of headphones will improve my students' ability to stay focused during centers.
If they are all better focused for each center, they then all have a better chance of retaining the lesson for the day.
It will also provide another means of content support for students by providing an opportunity to hear and see math or reading content presented differently than the teacher. Thus, using headphones will help the students practice material multiple times, which leads to understanding.
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