Had the opportunity last week to visit classrooms at a neighboring campus. It was SO much fun! I loved getting to see their different styles of hall way management, cafeteria crowd control, and even some fun math lessons!

I wanted to share some of the center greatness that I saw. Why was I impressed? Well, it a 5th grade classroom for one. Usually, you think centers and you think younger grades…this was a excellent example of how it can (and should!) be used with intermediate grades. It was also a MATH classroom. Not the first subject you think of when you think centers, eh? I’m a big fan of centers mainly because of how easy it is to raise the level of Bloom’s in your classroom. If you look at your lesson plans, it’s probably obvious to see the “content”, the “what” of what you are teaching..but what about your students’ thinking skills, the how?

What does critical thinking look like in your classroom? Are learners active and in a continuous dialogue with you? Are you feeding them information or are they discovering it on their own? Are questions answered with explanations?

There are so many different benefits to a classroom where high level, student centered and student facilitated learning is key…but the greatest one has to be the higher acceptance and social level in your room. Students are welcome and want to go chasing after some crazy idea because they know it is accepted and encouraged.

Anywho. Off topic. Centers are an easy way to help make that happen.