Whole Child Development through Centers
Overview
This is a template for an inquiry project in a senior level early childhood course.
The Importance of Centers Beyond Academics
Centers are beneficial to children of all ages and class levels. When centers are mentioned, oftentimes there is a misconception that they are only being used for content learning. However, centers are crucial for the development of many other skills that are necessary for the continuous growth of maturation.
Throughout our website you will view examples of skills that children will progress in with the use of centers. These skills will vary from content to developmental appropraite skills that will follow them into adulthood.
Refrences:
"Where Teacher Driven Change Works " is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
"Whole child development " by Sprouts is licensed under CC BY 4.0
The Beneficial Aspects of Centers
What are centers?
As defined by Barbara Dian O'Donnell and Rebecca Hitpas, "centers are small areas within the classroom where students select from teacher prepared activities to practice and apply the skills they have been taught." These centers are set up strategically to enhance the educational aspect in the classroom as well as the rate in which the children will develop a variety of skills they will benefit from as they grow into adulthood.
"Two Teachers learn from their students: Examining teaching, learning, and the use of learning centers " is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
Developmental Based Centers:
According to Bob Wagner, "Center activites play a critical role in fostering student learning. Cognitive skills are developed in a child-centered environemnt as students are empowered to make decisions, negotiate with peers, and create projects and scenarios while engaged in play. Executive function skills, such as self-control, planning/organizing, and cognitive flexibility, are central as students cooperate, problem solve and persist in an environment of creativity and curiosity. These same skills are behaviors, which are also assessed on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, connect directly to a person's later success in school, college and career."
"Using Center Activities to Promote Student Learning" by userMSDE Admin, userBob Wagner is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0
Here are a few more resources to check if you are wanting to learn creative ways to integrate centers into your classroom, and develop problem solving skills along with enhancing students creativity and curiosity.
Resources:
"Developmental Centers Vocabulary Posters" by MSDE Admin, Cheri Helmstetter, Amy Toms, Kristen Johnson, Bob Wagneris licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
"Dramatic Play Center- Campout" by MSDE Admin, Cheri Helmstetter, Amy Toms, Kristen Johnson, Bob Wagner is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
"Dramatic Play or Writing Center- Post Office" by MSDE Admin, userCheri Helmstetter, userAmy Toms, userKristen Johnson, userBob Wagner is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Content Based Centers:
Every classroom is full of diverse learners. The key to teaching each learner is differentiation. Centers are one of the best ways to differentiate so that fundamental curriculum concepts can be taught to all students. It is best to keep center groups small ideally having no more than four students per group. It is important to note that centers will look different for each classroom and for each subject being taught. Centers allow for peer tutoring, ability grouping, mastery, review, and also gives the teacher an idea of where the child is academically through interventions.
Below are a few resources to help integrate centers with a specific subject area while keeping in mind that students enjoy mastering the subject being taught when they can be done through creative and fun centers.
Resources:
- "Introduction to Chemistry Tools and Vocabulary through Word Walls and Centers" by Faith Sohns is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
- "Math center overview" by MSDE Admin, userCheri Helmstetter, userAmy Toms, userKristen Johnson, userBob Wagner is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
- "popping up some fun " by Cathy Wolf-Wegener is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Additional Information
Centers play a key role in a student's overall development. For more guidance in developing a beneficial center, we have provided a few resources. Throughout your readings, you will find sample skills and concepts as well as suggested materual that can be implemented in all subject areas of your classroom. Along with guidance for developing centers, we have also linked information regarding how to find your own valuable resources within OER Commonons in order to create these centers.
- "Learning Centers Suggested Materials" by userKristin Johnson, userMSDE Admin, userCheri Helmstetter, userAmy Toms, userBob Wagner is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
- "Open Educational Resources and OER Commons" by Lynn Ann Wiscount, Vince Mariner, Erin Halovanic is licensed under CC BY 4.0