How to Create Math Learning Centers for Students in Middle School

Create centers to engage middle-school students in math.

Learning centers are more frequently used by primary school teachers, however, using math centers in the middle grades can reap many benefits also. Middle-school teachers are often reluctant to use instruction time on activities such as centers. They are often unsure about the types of activities that will result in productive learning. With careful planning on your part, your middle-school students can gain information and make effective use of time spent completing math center work.

Instructions

1. Determine the content for the math center. The skill should be reinforced during that time, not taught. Choose a skill that has been introduced and is in need of more practice. Examples include percent problems, graphing, equations or probability.

2. Create an activity to practice the skill. Students should be able to conduct center activities independent of the teacher. These activities are typically more game- or hands-on-oriented and often completed in a group. An example of an activity for percentage would be to have students examine a photograph of a group of people and calculate percentages based on specific measures, such as the percentage of girls, people with brown hair, people sitting and people wearing red.

3. Detail instructions so that the student have no question about what is expected of them. Centers are created so that students can work without direct teacher supervision. Write instructions for your activity in a manner that students can easily understand and follow.

4. Design a method of reporting work and answers. Some teachers prefer students to have a self-check tool. Either way, you need some method that students can prove to you that they completed the assignment. This can be on a record sheet in a journal or simply on a sheet of paper.

5. Organize the center so that the students can easily access it. Middle school students are responsible enough to retrieve their own materials at the appropriate time. Place the center in a folder, file cabinet drawer or tub for students to obtain.

Tips & Warnings

• Create multiple centers and have students rotate from one to another during a block period of time.

• If math centers are too far below or above the students' levels they will get distracted. Grouping a mixture of student abilities works well so students can help one another.

References

• Laura Candler: Math Centers and Stations
• Jefferson County Schools: Middle School Math