How to start centers in kindergarten? It can be a little daunting… Let’s see if this post can help!
How to start centers in kindergarten?: Do it simply!
My goal for that first week of school is to have students GO to their station and STAY! So when I have a fun and engaging task for them to do there, it is simple.
Puzzles are easy. You don’t need to explain much… “This is a puzzle!” DONE!
We love playing with Playdoh!
Listening to books is an easy station to introduce. I like to first have a student model how to listen to the beeps and turn the page. For many students, this is a completely new thing for them. (Pretend not to notice my messy desk.)
And we practice handwriting on the overhead station! Simple!
The library station is a slam dunk! Easy!
How to start centers in kindergarten?: Build them over time!
The writing station starts out really simple. Students just go there and write! They may only take one paper to work on. Over time, I nudge them toward doing more, but the first few weeks, I am happy with my students just going, writing, and staying.
As the month progress, we expect more. This station will be with us ALL YEAR, so I have time to tweak it to increase the quality of work.
The same is true in our pocket chart station. We learn it in our whole group then move it into our stations a few days later.
After the first week, I might discuss this station like this, “Friends, when you go to the pocket chart today and every day, I want to you write one of the sentences you made. Let me show you.” NOW, every day, I expect an attempt at writing. I applaud their best efforts. When you brag on their approximations, they are more likely to be risk takers and excited about doing their best.
When you start centers, keep the activities predictable!
When students know the structure of an activity, then you can change the content they are working with. As the year progresses, the complexity will go up.
We played this game several times as a whole group. Then on the second week of school, it is ready to go into a station. My students were told this was a “bump” game. I have a billion “bump” games in my stations, so I wanted to be sure they understood how to play. From now on, I can swap this version out with another “bump” game and I don’t have to reteach the rules. It. Is. The. Same. Game… but with a different academic skill or theme.
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| Snap Cubes can be found HERE. |
When you start centers, building Independence is KEY!
We know they are going to have some dependency tendencies. This is kindergarten… right? BUT I want my students to be empowered to solve their own problems.
“I Can ” cards are a great resource. Remember, you can make your own. All you need is a pen and a piece of paper. Kindergartners think their teachers are magical! They will love your drawings!
My students hear me say… 100 times a day, “How do you think you could solve that problem?”
I also praise those students who were “problem solvers” during our station debrief period. This is the time after station rotation #1 where we all return to the carpet. At this time I can send out compliments and offer short clarification.
When you start centers, Set high expectations
There can be a lot of important work being during stations. Set the behavior expectations high. Yes, there will be some chatter. The amount of chatter depends on how you set your expectations.
Beware… Transitions can be the death of you! I always use music to trigger the time end of center time. I put on a quick song (under 2 minutes) and the students play, “beat the clock.” They have to clean up “neatly and completely” and be waiting on the carpet before the song ends. They love it, and I don’t have to hustle students along. Major time saver! Looking for other time savers you can read: NEVER enough time? Classroom Time Saving Tips for Kindergarten
Finally
I will advise you to NOT put 10 new and different stations out at one time. You will lose your mind. If you look at my plans you will see they build over time. Students can listen to about 2 new station introductions a day… that’s it! AND… if they are not going to that station for several days, I know I will need to touch base with them so they are doing the task as designed.Generally, I introduce a few stations on Monday, then a few more on Wednesday…
This time is important. Getting routines in place are important. I know small group instruction starts around the 3-4th week of school, so how I introduce stations is important. They must be independent.
Read more out about lesson plans HERE.
You can read more about my classroom set up by visiting HERE.
That is how I start centers in kindergarten!
You may also be interested in these blog posts:
- What does my schedule look like
- Top tips for stations management
- What does a guided reading lesson look like
- Literacy station ideas
- Math station ideas
- Early Finishers “I’m DONE!”
- Writers workshop nuts and bolts
- Reading workshop nuts and bolts
- Math workshop questions answered
- Classroom behavior and expectations
- Organizing for Instruction (click HERE to view)
So helpful! I am SO excited about this year because I have so many thing from last year that worked and that are ready to go!! Learned a ton at the SDE conference, too!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome!!!
How many Stations do you have and how many do they do a day?Do you expect students to go to all Stations? How do they move?
Stations Management I bet this post will answer a lot of your questions! If not, let me know!
Hey Deedee!
I have a quick question, how do the students know what part of the room to go to when they grab their station bin? Do they have a certain place to go with the station or do you just have them work at their desk?
Hi Mrs. Willis,
Do you offer your writing lists anywhere? They look amazing!
Yes! They are in the Writing Stations units. Simply click on the links in the blog post.
Thanks so much for this post! I’m a first year teacher and it was super helpful.
Do you do guided reading during this time? If so… how many students do you pull at a time for guided reading? As you pull students for guided reading, it leaves students to work by themselves at that station. Does this cause a problem if they were playing a game? Thanks!
Hi Joanna!
It does not for me. I have students leaving my room all the time (speech or vision tutoring). This is how I handle it. If they are left alone at a station, I tell them to play with my dog, Dexter. Who is not in the classroom, but they hear a ton of stories about him… so they use their imagination. I actually have a picture somewhere where they put “Dexter” down as their partner in a response sheet. HA! One sweetie came up to me and said, “Dexter won!” I just replied, “Well, he is a smart dog.” (which is not really true… bless his heart!”
Hi DeeDee,
Do you have the updated literacy station cards somewhere? I love the cute graphics
Hi Jess!
I updated them a few years ago. You can find some of them in this unit:
Hi! This was super helpful! What is your procedure for students that have questions or get done with your work or station early while you’re working with a group? How do you manage those situations?
Here is a post on early finishers: Early Finishers
We have an anchor chart for what to do if they have questions… Basically… they are not allowed to talk to me while I am at my table unless “they are bleeding or their hair is on fire.” This makes them laugh. I don’t think I have a picture of the anchor chart, but it is a “self-help strategy” chart. You can find it: Anchor Charts
I love your stations…am slowly adding your bundles to my rotations. Finally feel like I am getting a handle on my literacy stations. Now I am working on my math stations. Due you have math station cards like the literacy ones?
If so, where can I find them?
thanks