How to Set Up Classroom Learning Centers

Learning or rotation centers are places where students can self-direct their learning —usually in pairs or small groups—within the classroom. These designated spaces allow children to work collaboratively by accomplishing activities given an allotted amount of time and rotating to the next center after they have each completed a task. Learning centers also provide children with opportunities to practice hands-on skills and social interaction. Some classes have assigned spaces for learning centers all year while teachers in tighter classrooms set up and take them down as needed.  Permanent learning spaces are typically placed around the perimeter of the classroom or in nooks and alcoves where they dont interfere with the movement and flow of the classroom. No matter where a learning center is located or whether it is always standing, the only firm requirement is that it is a space in which children can work together to solve problems.   If youre ready to apply this popular tool to your teaching, read about how to effectively prepare the materials, arrange your classroom, and introduce your students to learning centers. Preparing the Centers The first step in creating a great learning center is to figure out what skills you want your students to learn or practice. Centers can be used for any subject but experiential learning and discovery should be the focus. Students need to be engaged even if they are practicing old skills. Once you have your focus, you can determine how many centers you will need and get to work designing and organizing them. Gather the materials, write out directions, and set behavioral expectations. Gather Student Materials You can pull materials from your curriculum or do a little digging if you dont think those will be engaging or meaningful enough. Scaffold the work that students will be doing and dont forget the graphic organizers. Put everything neatly in one place so you dont have to worry about materials management. Write out Clear Directions With Visuals Students should not need to raise their hand and ask you how to complete a task because the answers should already be there for them. Spend time designing task cards and anchor charts that provide step-by-step instructions so that you dont have to repeat yourself. Set Behavioral Goals and Expectations This one is especially important if your students have not had practice with learning centers. Teach them that they will need to cooperate with each other in order to learn and explain that most of their learning will be independent from you as they work together to solve problems. Be explicit about how exactly they should work together and behave. Stress to them that the ability to work collaboratively fosters incredible experiences but that centers are a privilege that they must earn with responsible behavior. Write these goals somewhere for easy reference. Setting up the Classroom With your learning center materials prepared, you can arrange your room to accommodate new spaces. The way you choose to set up your centers ultimately depends on the size of your class and number of students but the following tips can be applied to any classroom. Groups should not exceed five students. This makes it possible for students to complete tasks and move easily through the centers.Get creative with the setup. Dont be afraid to use rugs, libraries, and even hallways for your centers. Students are flexible and enjoy experiencing learning in new ways and from new angles, so dont hesitate to have some working on the floor and some standing up if the activities allow for this. Keep materials organized. Its not enough to just keep them in one place, you also need a system for making materials easy for students to find and keeping the supplies together after they have been used. Utilize baskets, folders, and totes for easy organization and efficiency. Make a schedule. Assign each student a group to rotate with and center where they will begin and end. Give each group and center a color/shape and number to help children know where to go next.Provide cleanup time. After each center is completed, give students time to return materials to thei r places for the next group and a place to turn in their completed center work. This makes it easier to collect all finished work at once. Introducing Centers to Students Take time to very explicitly introduce the new centers and discuss rules with your class. Students must understand the expectations of center work before beginning—this ensures that your time can be spent supporting learning. Before you begin, clearly explain (and post somewhere in the classroom) expected behavior during centers and the consequences of not meeting these expectations. Then, introduce centers to your students by modeling the following steps. Use a timer that students can see and hear to keep track of time. Teach the students how you will get their attention during center time. Try some of these call-and-responses.Point out or physically bring the students to each center to explain them one at a time.Show students where the directions and all other materials are located at every center (Note: Materials should be in about the same place for each of them).Explain in detail the purpose of each activity they will be working on—This is what you should learn at this center.Model completing the work that students will be doing. Show only enough that students understand and feel free to skip very straightforward activities to spend more time on the more challenging ones.Demonstrate how to clean up the center and rotate to the next one when the timer goes off. Be sure to intersperse your directions with student practice. Pause after each point to make sure they understand, then allow a volunteer or group of volunteers to demonstrate the steps after youve modeled them—finding the materials, beginning the activity, responding when the teacher calls for their attention, cleaning up the center, and rotating to the next one—while the class observes. Then, allow the whole class to practice this once or twice and they will be ready to start on their own.

The West Unique, Not Universal, By Samuel P. Huntington

In Samuel P. Huntington’s article â€Å"The West: Unique, Not Universal,† he addresses his audience with a very controversial question: Is Western Culture universal or unique? Huntington elaborately opens up this question with research and examples to explain and persuade readers that the West will never be a universal culture for all, but rather a unique culture that will be accepted by those who appreciate it. For decades now, historians and scholars have debated with one another to determine who is right and wrong. However, from a handful of articles from different scholars, Samuel Huntington’s statement that the West is unique rather than universal is supported and even further elaborated on by these particular sources. A common understanding between all the sources, that must be noted, is that a civilization’s culture is not comprised of material goods but rather their culmination of their religion(s), values, language(s) and traditions. While al though there are scholars out their that negate the West is unique, a large amount of scholars still argue and strengthen Huntington’s argument that the West has unique and exclusive characteristics that make them distinctive and rare. Samuel P. Huntington was a brilliant student and political scientist who wrote numerous articles and is most notably recognized for his novel â€Å"The Clash of Civilizations.† He attended college at Yale University and went on to get his PhD in political science. Moreover he was a Harvard professorShow MoreRelatedUniversal Human Rights? Essay1932 Words   |  8 Pagesnotorious for its explicit defiance of international human right norms. These norms, codified in the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (hereinafter, the UDHR), define human rights to be â€Å"inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family† (The Universal Declaration). 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Sacred Places Essay Example For Students

Sacred Places Essay The World Trade Center: A Sacred Site R. Clark, J. Frazier July 4, 2010 Greg Underwood University of Phoenix The World Trade Center: Sacred Site Myths, while imagined, have their own explanations of the divine, that to the faithful and those who take the myth on faith, see as true, sacred and unquestioned. For those who do not see myths as religion and the lore and stories in it mere stories, events and elements in it are curiously close to the beliefs and persuasive elements of the philosophies or religion the person follows. Take for example current world religions elements of god, evil, goodness, light, dark, motherhood, piety, divine appointment, determinism they are all part of the Pantheon. Remember, that back in the period when the stories and tales we now know as myths were the standard, they were seen and treated by the civilization or culture that followed them as the truth, the established knowledge and explanation of their world, their reality and their role and place in it. Each myth, each pantheon of gods had their own sacred places. Like dwellings to humans, these sacred places were either their abodes or locations that held great significance to them due to events and roles that played out in it. There are different types of sacred sights. Despite their differences they are united by common elements. Sacred sites allow the people of a specific culture transcend time space, moving them to a distant, sacred space. Sometimes this is through historic retellings of actual events and sometimes it is through the imagination of things that cannot be proven to have happened. They are the sites where important things happened, either through divine or human agency (Leonard McClure, 2004). Some sacred places are sites for mourning. Let us, for the purpose of discussion, consider religion as an evolution or an expression of established myths. The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and the Golgotha, the hill and site where Jesus Christ was crucified, is a place of mourning but at the same time a place of divine sanctity as events of the divine that are important in the Pantheon, erformed on, for or by important figures in the pantheon happened there (wcg. org, 2008). Jesus Christs crucifixion is central to Christian theology. It is by his death that Man is saved, an offering to God and to humanity. Without the death of Christ, in such a cruel and gruesome manner, the Christianity we know today wont exist as it is where Jesus Christ transcends from mortal to divine. Hence, the place he was cruelly put to death, the cross he was nailed to, his shroud, the nails, the crown of thorns, the city where it happened and all the characters evil and good that placed a part in it, they are all important in the telling and the sanctity of the event with the place, the city of Jerusalem and the hill of Golgotha determined in the larger Christian pantheon as absolutely and unquestionably sacred (wikipedia. org, 2010). Now, lets take a look at other sacred places the temples of the Roman Gods, the temples and pyramids of Egyptian pharaohs, the ancient Celtic locations known as Stonehenge, that used to host worship and celebratory ceremonies, the ancient temples of the Olmecs, the Aztecs and the Incas and important places of worship of the American Indians are only among the many. Many of these places are not places of mourning but also of celebration. However, when worship and celebration happens, it only means remembrance, prayers and giving importance to a set of beliefs. .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d , .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d .postImageUrl , .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d , .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d:hover , .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d:visited , .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d:active { border:0!important; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d:active , .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1f4234faa0212beaf7ad7d59b86cce4d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The American Opportunity EssayNow, by mourning, those who come to mourn remember all the good things about a person, an event or a relationship hence the loss is difficult and sad. They mourn to pray for, give thanks to as well as celebrate and give importance to the object of their mourning. Hence, in Christian churches, a mass is held to celebrate and mourn a departed before his/her body is entered into the tomb. Now in modern America, can it be said that the former site of the World Trade Center is an emergent sacred location? Like Troy in Homers Iliad and Odyssey (www. imelessmyths. com, 1999), it was cruelly destroyed and burnt down to the ground unsuspecting individ uals going about their lives attacked upon in stealth by an angry enemy wishing to terrorize with fear a nation (in comparison to Troy, considered a sacred place in the pantheon of Greek mythology, as proven in the digs at the Greek city of Pergamum in what is now Turkey). Granted, the terrorists did not have the supposed fleets of Greek navy and regiments of warriors and soldiers representing nations. However, their attack was aimed to settle a score, to destroy, harm and if possible, raze to the ground Troy over several disputes and grievances over territory, politics, wealth and a woman, Helen. In comparison, the Al Qaeda terrorists motivations are not far off politics, ideology, religion and territory. The World Trade Center was originally a venture to revitalize Lower Manhattan. The Port Authority thought this idea of consolidated world trade would bring a greater flow of commerce and traffic through the port. It was a seven building structure that would house offices above west Hudson stop on the PATH Line (WTC, 2010). It can be assumed that the original team of men and women who envisioned such a bright future for the building could not have expected the World Trade Center would come to stand for far more. On September 11th, 2001, the World Trade Center was destroyed by terrorists who flew two commercial jets into the twin towers. On September 12th, amidst the twisted wreckage and a mourning nation, a sacred site was born. The destruction of the World Trade Center opened a new chapter in global politics and conflict resulting to a continuing war on a global scale that resulted to change in regimes, associations and political leadership in the Middle East (Iraq) and Central Asia (Afghanistan) and caused several similarly themed events the world over (consider the Bali Bombings). It divided people by religion and belief, as well as united those who stand by view and faith, as well as realigned political affiliations and rearranged legislation from domestic to global agencies. Most of all, soldiers, civilians and fighters lost their lives, causing families and communities to mourn and give a certain sense of importance, negative or positive, to the site where it all began the former site of the Twin Towers in New York. The loss of lives in the building itself is significant. Families and friends still come to the site regularly to pray for and to mourn those who perished, including families of people who lost their lives in the preceding war. The site has become sacred as the spiritual elements of their passing become a source of hope and inspiration to those who mourn them, celebrating their lives when they were still around. Much like Jerusalem, the site has become sacred due to the events that happened in it and the meaning attached to the event and the people involved. In conclusion The World Trade Center has come to stand for more than just a building that emphasizes global commerce. It is more than a way for the Port Authority to increase its ridership. And it is far more than a way to revitalize a dying neighborhood. .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be , .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be .postImageUrl , .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be , .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be:hover , .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be:visited , .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be:active { border:0!important; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be:active , .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u342a54094ab596b2a6dbd5f1310c82be:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: A Streetcar Named Desire Coursework EssayThe images of the twin towers, broken, twisted and smoking are burned in the American cultural consciousness. The remains of the building has been cleared away, so that a new six building structure and a memorial can be re-built in the original’s place. But the site will never again just be an office building or a stop on the Port Authority Trans-Hudson line. It will forever be a reminder to the American people that freedom always has a cost, and that cost can be tallied in lives. That very memory of the World Trade Center provides solidarity for many different people of different lifestyles. It reminds us of our fragility and brings the realities of our global neighborhood in a harsh way. It moves us beyond the here and now and unites us against a common threat. It moves us to great heights of compassion and sacrifice and reminds us of the all to human flaws that we as a people struggle with. We are not so unlike our Greek brethren, nor are our modern sacred places so different from their ancient relative, Troy. References Information retrieved on July 1, 2010, from experiencefestival. com/a/Sacred_Places. Information retrieved on July 1, 2010, from www. en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Presentation_of_Jesus_at_the_Temple Information retrieved on July 1, 2010, from http://www. wcg. org/lit/jesus/golgotha. htm. Information retrieved on July 1, 2010, from http://www. timelessmyths. com/classical/ Leonard, S. , McClure, M. (2004). Myth and knowing. An introduction to world mythology . Retrieved from  https://ecampus. phoenix. edu/content/eBookLibrary2/ content/eReader. aspx. (2010). World Trade Center. Retrieved from http://www. wtc. com/about/wtchistory-wtc- timeline