How to Set Up Learning Centers in a Middle School Classroom

Set up learning centers to challenge your students.
... monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images

Learning centers have long been used as an instructional tool in primary classrooms, but these self-led instructional areas can be equally effective when used within a middle school classroom. To effectively establish learning centers in a middle school classroom, teachers must consider their students' needs and social development and set up a series of learning centers ideal for their pupils' academic and developmental levels.

Establish ground rules for center usage.
... Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images

Set ground rules for center usage. Middle school students work best when presented with clear rules and expectations. Before you allow your middle school students to use learning centers, explain how the centers will run, when they are allowed to visit the centers and what they are expected to do while participating in the learning centers.

Make sure you include cooperative activities.
... Fuse/Fuse/Getty Images

Include cooperative activities. Middle school students thrive when working cooperatively with peers. Allow for cooperative learning when planning your learning centers by setting up some centers that include activities intended for two people to complete.

Use high-interest tasks in your learning centers to encourage more students participation.
... Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images

Select high-interest tasks. Your students will likely be more engaged if they are interested in the material covered in the learning centers. Use high-interest topics to capture and maintain your students' attention. For example, if one learning center asks students to identify parts of speech within a sentence, compose sentences about members of the class engaged in zany situations such as, “Bobby and Tommy were eating lunch when a zebra stole Bobby's pop tart.”

Leave space around the centers so your students don't get distracted.
... GeorgeRudy/iStock/Getty Images

Leave space around the centers. If your centers are too cramped together, students may be more likely to interact with peers at other centers and engage in off-task behavior. Allow plenty of space between your centers by stationing them around the perimeter of your classroom wall and leaving at least 6 feet between each station.

Organize materials carefully.
... Piotr Adamowicz/iStock/Getty Images

Organize materials carefully. If you organize your materials carefully when you set up your learning centers, they are more likely to remain organized as students move through the centers and complete the tasks. Use folders to keep papers in order and plastic containers to store any writing utensils or tools that are needed to complete the task.

Make sure your instructions are clear.
... Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images

Compose clear instructions. Your students should be able to engage in each center activity independently. To ensure that this is possible, you must compose easy-to-follow instructions. Write your instructions for each activity in a step-by-step format, making it possible for your students to quickly read them and ascertain what it is they are expected to do at each station.

Erin Schreiner is a freelance writer and teacher who holds a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University. She has been actively freelancing since 2008. Schreiner previously worked for a London-based freelance firm. Her work appears on eHow, Trails.com and RedEnvelope. She currently teaches writing to middle school students in Ohio and works on her writing craft regularly.

×