CENTERS


NAEYC
Accredited

Michele A. Polselli's Kindergarten
Melville Elementary School, Portsmouth, RI
                                                                     

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Center Time

     This page contains contact information for all the Centers of our
Kindergarten. From here you can view the centers before you even
visit our room. Also available is the Classroom Management System
which I use to keep track of the centers that the child has visited.

Alphabetical listing, by last name:
 

Big Books
Building Blocks
Calendar
Coloring
Computer
Counting
Cutting
Doll House
Listening
Painting
Play Dough
Playhouse
Puppets
Puzzles
Reading
During Center & Snack Time, the children are given a pictures  of the centers situated in the classroom which I created with the program Boardmaker.    Once they choose their center, they cut out the picture and place it on a My Work Center paper.  This goes home daily.  There is so much more discussion at home now between the children and their parents.  When the children have finished visiting all of the centers, I reissue them another set of pictures.
With this system, the children are monitoring and recording their own choices and they are also able to express to their families later in the day what they experienced and learned at that particular center.

Big Books


This is where I read stories to the children on a daily basis.  Most of our books are big books, which allows for a Language Rich Environment.  In a classroom that uses Whole Language, big books is a major focus as a teaching tool.


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Building Blocks


In the Building Blocks Center the children learn to organize blocks and arrange them to make various creations.  Also in the block are there are people, cars, animals and roads to build towns.  Most children love this center and their imaginations are unyielding here.  I will try to place some pictures periodically throughout the year of some of the creations the children have made.

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Calendar


Every day we visit the Calendar and most of our Math is done right.  We learn the numbers, days of the week, months of the year.  We have a monthly pattern that we follow and we are counting the days of the month as well as how many days are in the school year.  We have a celebration as we reach the 100th day. As the year continues, we add on various math standards to the Calendar Center.  

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Coloring


This center is designed to help strengthen and enhance the skill of coloring.  There are markers, pens, crayons and pencils all available for daily skill building.

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Computer


The computer center is one of the most popular centers in the room.  The children learn to control the mouse and to become familiar with the keyboard.  The timers are set to control the sessions, which are 10 minutes in length.  With the use of the network, we are able to use the CCC program which basically reinforces letter and number recognition.  Along with this CCC also provides storytelling and story writing.  Because we are a part of the Model Classroom Initiative funded by The Rhode Island Foundation and Bill Gates, we are able to have 1 computer for every 4 children.  I have created one project on Nutrition which I begin after Christmas.

He learns how machines work and how they can help him learn more.
He practices hand~eye coordination using the mouse.
He is able to learn the processes necessary to use technology.
He learns how to express his ideas through technology and share his ideas with others.


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Counting


This center changes weekly.  I have various manipulatives with which the children can use to count with.  I change the numbers depending upon the child's level.   In January I enhance this center by allowing the children to choose Adding or Subtracting cards.  

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Cutting


At the Cutting Center, basic skills are mastered daily.  The use of scissors is so important as a daily function in Kindergarten.  This center reinforces and helps to strengthen the muscles in the hand that allow the fingers to squeeze the scissors firmly. 

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Dollhouse


This center allows the children to pretend and role play through the characters that live here.  Allowing children to pretend gives the teacher the opportunity to help model good social skills. 

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Listening


He learns to listen.
He has an opportunity to increase his vocabulary by hearing new words read to him. He learns about different concepts, people and places.
He learns to enjoy books and reading.
His mind is stimulated, visualizing the things he is hearing about.
After books have been read by the teacher, this center allows the child to hear it again and again.  They also can follow along in the story and model what I have done by touching the words at the bottom as the person reads to them. 

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Painting


The opportunity to paint is oftentimes is available to children every day.  If the child doesn't choose to go there during center time, then during their Free Choice of Play they may paint.  This helps to strengthen the whole arm as opposed to just the hand when the child is coloring.  The easel doesn't allow you to rest your hand as you work so the muscles will get stronger.  This inclined board is also great for just plain writing and forming letters because it forces you to use your whole arm and not just your fingers.

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Play Doh

This is probably the place where your child will develop and strengthen their finger and hand muscles the most.  Oftentimes it is a messy center, but the benefits outweigh the mess.  Giving this opportunity at home is a plus.  Just through an old sheet down on the floor around where your child uses the play dough and when they are through just gather up the sheet and shake it outside!  Your floor will stay neat and clean!

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Puppets

Another role playing center which encourages correct social skills is the Puppets.  Here the children can retell stories that they have heard during the day or even make up their own.  It is a great opportunity to teach co-operation skills.

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Puzzles

Some children are a whiz at puzzles and others need more time to process the skill of puzzle making.  No matter what the level, there is a wide range of puzzles at this center to strengthen the mind.

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Reading

At the Reading center the children have the opportunity to read a choice of good books and visit some of the same books that I have read during the day. It is comfortable and the puppets are also allowed here so the child may retell the story with the puppet.  Even though most of the children cannot read the words of the story independently, I can tell if they comprehended the story by listening to them retell the story.

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Classroom Management for Center time
Each child during Centers is given a Center Sheet that has their name on it and the heading:


Name

My Center Worksheet

Today is ___________ and I went to ...
 

The chidren then cut out the picture of the center that they choose to work at for the day and glue it to the paper.  This is sent home daily and the parents now know what to discuss with their child about their day.  The pictures are from Boardmaker.  When they have finished glueing all of the pictures then they receive a new Center Sheet.  This way I know that the children are visiting all the centers and they are making their choices about them.

 

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This web is maintained by
Michele Polselli
Please contact mpolselli@cox.net
for any problems or questions

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