Online learning centers allow students opportunities to practice with free online games in math and literacy to include problem-solving, writing, reading and vocabulary use. While there are numerous and free online games, including reasoningmind.org, there are also software programs designed to meet individual student needs following some pretesting. The use of software allows teachers to track and monitor student progress as each student works at a computer for 20 to 30 minutes. One computer in each center can also accommodate students as they rotate its use for 20 minutes each per group.
Books on tape are effective tools to use in listening centers, especially for students who struggle with reading or who want to read more challenging books. Students choose from among four or five books to listen to. While listening, they can use graphic organizers to record reflective notes, story grammar to include setting, characters, problem and solution. Students can write re-tellings or respond to writing assignment prompts once finished, such as writing new endings or changing endings and characters around. Each book read is recorded in an individual student book-completion chart, with all follow-up writing contained in the student's folder or work portfolio to receive a grade, bring home to parents or simply display in the classroom.
Word wall and vocabulary centers are literacy centers that focus students on words read in other books, challenging words learned from classroom textbook reading, or new vocabulary to be encountered in future reading. Word walls are resources that aid students in spelling, reading and vocabulary use as they complete classroom writing assignments. Students can make word cards with definitions on the back, caption words with their use in short phrases and sentences, or caption more challenging words with picture prompts to help clarify meaning. Any creative way for students to add to and organize their word wall helps them make better sense of new and challenging words while creating a richer resource for reading and writing activities.
Math centers are hands-on opportunities for students to practice with newly learned math skills through games and manipulatives such as magnetic numbers, play coins, flash cards and number cards. Students play in groups or independently within a group setting to support and encourage one another. They can play math cards for example, by using cards with equations or algebraic expressions to be problem-solved and defined later. As each student draws a card, he must recite its solution. The player with the greatest amount of correct solutions after a designated number of draws wins.