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During the
first few days or weeks, keep the children at their tables during
center time. For the first few days, put something on each table
that takes no explanation--legos, blocks, etc. Talk about how to
play with the materials--keep them on the table, etc. Also talk
about what to do when time is up--clean up and put the materials
back in their proper spot. Throughout the week, the children rotate
around the room, so they are at a different table every day. That is
all we do for the first few days. We don't have centers for very
long at this point (15 minutes, or so). After a time, introduce an
activity at one of the tables which requires more explanation. When
a few more days have passed, introduce another activity. Keep
introducing new activities, until there are enough to introduce a
workjob board. It's hard to know when to do this---it just depends
on your class and if you think they are ready to follow a chart.
Even though we always wonder how we will get them into a routine,
somehow it all comes together. The key is to start with the familiar
and take baby steps to progress toward the end result. Don't throw
too much at them at once. Make sure you have modeled how to use the
materials before starting the workjob board--or whatever center
organizer that you use. Even after the workjob board has been
introduced, have the children meet in front of the board and talk
about it---"Where are you going to go first?” When it is time for
them to rotate to a new center, we meet back in front of the workjob
board and talk again--"Where are you going second?" and so on. |
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