[Murphy311]

Hi everyone,
I teach a self-contained K,1,2 classroom for students with behavioral needs/autism/speech-language impairments. I do centers every day so I can get in guided reading time. The majority of my planning time is spent figuring out what to do during centers every day. They go to the same centers each day and usually finish their work in the allotted time and then I have to think of a new activity for the next day. It's getting tough to think of 5 different activities for 5 centers for each day of the week. I'd like to do weekly centers, where the same activity is in the center for the week. Any ideas or links to helpful websites?
Thanks in advance!

[funhaha]

I do centers too. I have them set for the entire week, and don't have to change them until the next week. They have "must-do" centers that they have to get done before they can do the "choice" centers. They have from Monday-Friday to do it all. I can try to attach my checklist that each child has and carries with them, but the last time I tried to attach stuff it didn't let me. I have a spelling center that I have to change monthly. There's a spelling bingo board where they have a choice of about 30 different activities to do. They must complete 3 a week. I have the spelling bin set up with everything they will need to complete those activities.

Well, I just tried and it keeps saying "invalid file" for my files!! If you want to PM me with your email address, I will send you the center checklist, and if I have the spelling bingo board here, I will email you that too.

[Murphy311]

Thanks! How do you send a PM on these boards??

[1stisfun!]

Could you please share some of your spelling activities that you have on your spelling bingo board?

THanks

[eweyma1]

I have it set up in a similar way. I can't work on timers because I think it's important for students to work at their own pace. Each day they start with their "Must Do" which I assign and is on a chart on the board (either word wall, making words, writing, or read around the room). As soon as they're done, they may move to any 1 can do. Every Friday, the Must Do for everyone is Catch-Up and then they can as many Can Do's as they want (science, art, overhead, pocket chart, etc).
Many of my centers are fairly set. For example, I have a worksheet for the word wall center that stays the same for a month or two, but the students first have to build the words with play-dough, wikki sticks, write it in sand or salt, etc. and they're writing different words. But because the worksheet stays the same, I don't have to do much to set it up. Making words stays the same (same worksheet, same magnet letters), but using different words.
Send me an e-mail if you need anything else...I know what a pain centers can be!