2. Differentiated Learning Centers What they are…. Activities or materials set up in different areas throughout the room used to extend knowledge, enhance skills, and teach to student interest and learning style. What they do…. Focus on standards and skills. Monitors students learning growth. Address the range of reading levels, intelligences, interests, and skill levels. Provide clear instructions and expectations. Teach accountability for knowledge and independence/interdependence.
3. How Do I Use This Method? Find out students learning styles and interests. How? Formal Survey; Learning Style test; Ice Breakers Clearly define the learning goal/standard. Establish clear objectives for each center. Develop an avenue for students to achieve that objective at that center. How do they learn best? What interests them? Assign students tasks according to ability. Have students keep a record of their center.
4. Different Approaches to Learning centers Students work on centers after the teacher directed instruction and assigned work is done. Pro: Motivates completion of homework and learning. Con: Students to not do assignments to the best of their ability. Have students choose the centers to attend. Pro: Motivates learning through choice and interest. Con: Not enough space to attend to all interests. Extend the Curriculum Choice Learning
5. Different Approaches to Learning centers Students learn the majority of content through centers. Students attend all centers. Allow for students to self-pace time on each center. Students demonstrate knowledge of content prior to formal assessment. Students choose their centers based on interests/learning styles. Delivery of Content Review of Content
6. Preparedness: Leave time to allow individual questions from students. Have procedures and expectations clearly explained in writing at each center. Establish anchor activities when students complete work at a station and are waiting to move on. Give each student their own check list and opportunity to self-assess quality of work.
7. How To Use This Method Determine students learning styles. Pre-assessment of skill levels (homework, observation). Create centers based on determined styles. Differentiate levels in groups. Give clear directions (written, auditory, picture prompts). Establish clear expectations (what will it look like). Give students a recording system to track of their centers.
8. Survival Skills Clear directions Establish routine Accountability Portfolios, checklists, rubric, etc. Connectivity with new, old or current content Flexibility Extra/alternate materials & changeable within given centers Anchor questions
9. What can Be used for Visual Learners? Puzzles Drawing Writing Reading Visual sequencing Memory Tracing Big books
10. What Can Be used for Kinesthetic Learners? Clay Stamping Dice or card games Floor Puzzles Experiments Role playing
11. What can Be used for Auditory Learners? Books read to them by a partner Electronic books read Teacher instructed small group Retelling into a tape recorder
