I want to have 7 centers: Art, Sand/Water Play, Blocks, Dramatic play, Science/Discovery, Reading/Literacy and Math.
I have placed my Art and Sand/Water Centers close to the Bathrooms for easier cleanup.
The art center will have all kinds of items for the students to use at their own convenience. I will have an area on the wall behind the art center to display things they have created! This will be a place for their imaginations to be put to work. From time to time we may do specific assignments such as something that correlates with the holidays or seasons.
Sand and water centers support students sensory play. I will keep a large rug underneath this center for easier cleanup at the end of the day.
I will have a large area for students to build things with blocks, several will be allowed in this center at once as long as they can get along together. This is another great place for children to operate in their creativity!
I also plan to have a large space for dramatic play so students can use their imaginations and work on life skills. Children love to pretend they have jobs, children, can cook, answer telephones, etc. These centers are always so much fun!
The Science center will have several things to do- Sorting insects into groups, finding objects in the "I spy" jar, using the magnifying glass and trying experiments. It is a thrill discovering new things!
The Literacy center will have different objectives each week concentrating on the sounds and letters of that week. This will be a great area for students who are struggling in reading and writing.
The Math center will vary with whatever math concepts we are mastering at the time. I plan to have money mats like the one pictured, addition and subtraction sight cards and number games.
I want a nice, large cubby/pickup area with plenty of room so students/Parents aren't searching for a place to stand or squeeze their coats, extra clothes, etc. in.
( Photo by: gettyimages.com)
I would love to be able to have two bathrooms with the sink outside in between them where I can watch and make sure all students wash their hands and aren't just playing. This moves the bathroom process along a lot faster because students use the toilet and come straight out to wash their hands and the next person goes in. That way there is no playing in the water for 5 minutes. However, all schools are not set up this way and if I have a classroom that isn't I will just have to adjust.
I want a large closet to store all materials that I may not use every day but need to keep on hand, might even include a washer and dryer inside the closet to wash cot covers and such. I think this would prove to be very helpful. Also, I would keep the closet locked to avoid having children try to get into it all the time.
I will have a place specifically to stack all the cots safely. In a corner next to the closet so they would not be in the way of anything.
There will be an entrance and exit on opposite sides of the room- I would like this in case of a fire or disaster of some sort. I like having two exits from the room.
I want to have a quiet corner stocked with books, bean bag chair and tapes on CD. It is always good to have a place where you don't have to do anything but relax when you need to.
There will be 4 long length tables that will seat 6 students each. I want to leave plenty of room around them so I can navigate through them easily and help students when needed.
I will have a big rug for numbers, days of the week, month, weather, days in school, birthdays, etc. I will also use it for book reading and any other concepts we are learning at the time. Rug time is a must :)
(Photo by: www.mpmschoolsupplies.com)
