Learning Centers in a Mid-Level ELA classroom

In class the other day we went through learning centers to learn about vocabulary instruction. This instructional strategy was used effectivley and appropriately in our college context. But we must ask ourselves if it is an appropriate strategy to implement with middle school students. Through my limited experience and knowledge of learning centers, my answer is yes. I think learning centers are developmentally appropriate for the middle school age group. Allowing students to be actively engaged in the exploration of knowledge that you as an instructor want them to recieve is beneficial for middle school students in a variety of ways. It benefits their physical development as it allows students to move around from station to station rather than sit one seat, in one position for an entire lesson. It benefits their intellectual development through allowing them to explore different aspects of a larger concept at each station and then tie these aspects all together in the end to form a cohesive and thorough understanding. Well developed and planned learning centers also benefit students' moral and ethical development through the fostering of higher order thinking skills and encouraging the consideration of various viewpoints of the topic being learned. Learning centers also benefit the emotional and psychological development of the students through the understanding that the teachers care about them and their learning. With the small group setting, it provides a wonderful opportunity to interact with students on an individual level and build those important relationships. This instructional method also benefits social development through interaction with peers at each station. Learning centers encourage positive group work and collaboration and a safe environment where ideas can be shared and valued by others.

To facilitate student learning, I would utilize a variety of classroom management techniques while implementing learning centers, many of which were modeled for us in class. I would begin by having everyone gathered together before explaining the content and tasks associated with each station. I would provide clear and concise instructions for expectations at each station and clearly describe the location of each station. Then, once the foundations of the learning centers have been established, I would divide the class into groups in a creative way and clearly explain where each group should go first and how the rotation works. I would explain the amount of time that is to be spent at each station and let them know that when the bell sounds or the alarm goes off, it is time to rotate to the next station. The key idea for classroom management for learning centers in a middle school classroom is clarity in the directions and expectations of all students and preventing any confusion with where they are supposed to be when and/or what they are supposed to be doing at a certain station.

When looking at an ELA classroom, specifically, it requires appropriate judgment when considering when to use learning centers. I think it could be utilized successfully when teaching a variety of ELA concepts. Writing may be an appropriate time to implement this strategy of learning centers; each station could be a step in the writing process and involve an activity that teaches students how to pre-write/brainstorm or how to edit, for example. Reading could also be an appropriate time for learning centers; for example, one station could involve vocabulary, one station could involve predicting, one station could revolve around comprehension. There are plenty of opportunities to use learning centers in an ELA classroom; it simply requires effective implementation and creativity!

To learn more about learning centers, I used the Google search engine to discover more about this strategy. I found a source that may be helpful to you as you begin to think about implementing learning centers in your future classroom. It is a pdf file presented by Cindy Blevins and is a general overview of how to implement learning centers into the middle school classroom. She provides helpful tips to take into consideration when developing learning centers and provides ideas for ELA specific learning centers as well. Check it out when you have time!