[MOSAIC] Evan Moor Centers/Another idea

[Joy]

I know that many schools mandate that their teachers use centers. It is strongly suggested at my school. (Thank goodness my administrator is flexible with what we do most of the time). I personaly don't like them unless they are directly connected to the reading and writing my students are doing in class. (If you read Pat Pavelka's books, Createing Independent Learners and Guided Reading Management, she has some great ideas for centers grounded in literacy, are easy to prepare, and won't break your budget http://www.crystalspringsbooks.com/popular-authors/pat-pavelka-tortora.html )
   
  I used the Evan Mor file folder centers that were mentioned in my second grade class last year. I had several problems with them. I would up relegating them to my emergency sub plans. Here are some of the reasons I didn't like them:
   
  In my opinion, they don't promote authentic reading or writing activities the way reading workshop does.
   
  Students pretty much have to understand the concepts before they do them. If they already understand the concepts, what is the point of them doing them?
   
  It's too easy to lose the components. Once you loose a piece, it causes all kinds of confusion.
   
  It takes too long to put them together. It took me an entire weekend to assemble them. I feel my time would have been better spent planning, grading student work, or RELAXING! (what a concept!)
   
  If I'm working with a small group, I'd rather have my other students reading or writing during this time.
   
  This is just my opinion, like other mandates, teachers have to follow what we are told to do, or risk termination. It really sucks when you know what best practices are, how to do them, and yet your hands are tied. If you must use centers, go to your library and check out, or interlibrary loan, Pat's books before you spend money.
   
   
   


                Joy/NC/4
  jwidmann at rocketmail.com
  How children learn is as important as what they learn: process and content go hand in hand. http://www.responsiveclassroom.org
   









  
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