#BFC530 Archive
The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
Thursday January 14, 2016
Good morning Lori from central Ohio joining in!
Do we have a topic today?
I'd love to hear how folks use centers specifically in math instruction?
Good morning East Coast Edition! Craig from CA here. 4th grade teacher
Good morning! Didn’t oversleep so my morning is starting as it should….without panic.
Good Morning! Are "activity centers" (i.e. learning task stations) effective pedagogy for every age/grade?
I've never really used "centers" per se but have differentiated activities for students. I like the variety that adds to a classroom
Good morning, . I'm looking forward to learning about centers and how I can use them in a HS environment.
. is a channel to broaden my thinking, make connections and challenge assumptions
For Ts Twitter provides opportunities to develop a PLN to cooperate, collaborate, learn, grow
Good Morning ! Stacey from NJ. Getting ready to tackle Thursday!
Are you still up after winning Powerball?
I use center/stations n 3rd grade
Good morning . Brian, HS principal from Mass.
Same here, although I give Ss full choice as to what they work on in the classroom...a buffet of choices.
Activity centres are 1 of a number of effective teaching tools
Work well to help keep brain sharp and improve problem solving skills
Susan from the Jersey Shore, MS Lang Arts.. Anyone have some really fun lessons they'd like to share? Would love to hear!
I think so, especially when Ss can move individual pace. https://t.co/K1aD1Imgpt
Good Morning! Are "activity centers" (i.e. learning task stations) effective pedagogy for every age/grade?
Not much to share with you this morning. I'll sit back and be mindful of the great centers out there.
I especially use centers in math when I don't have enough manipulative for the whole class
Good morning friends! Steve from NJ here.
Good morning - wow this week is flying!
I used centers in reading workshop when I taught 2nd grade. I haven't really used centers since then.
Unfortunately, I live in Northern California and the winning ticket was sold in Southern CA https://t.co/TAol7mBLQS
Are you still up after winning Powerball?
My Learning Centers page https://t.co/1TI8g7tAAy Schools should have movable walls & furniture to create learning environments.
Perhaps! Big party at then! :) https://t.co/siEPIy1vTv
Oh, see the winner was sold in LA area. Fun video at the store. Another sold in FL-- someone at FETC?
Interactive learning centers can be great, we must remember to train every student on every center. Don't assume.
Are centers the same as stations? I'm a little behind here.
Of course I use center all the time in Kindergarten. Not sure how it would look in higher grades.
My daughter works in centers regularly in her kindergarten class and loves the freedom to choose
I've seen lots of great uses of centers in primary grades. Seems like secondary prefers groups working on same task
I provide a choice base learning environment which is similar in concept to centers in terms of differentiation
In HS going more 1 to. 1 has reduced centers to more individual blended learning
Centers/stations are becoming an important part of our planning as we move toward blended learning.
We use centers in secondary and I often use them in Prof devlpmt. Changing activities keeps everyone engaged.
When I used daily 5, I taught them and we practiced behavior before any learning occurred.
Hello Lori, I'm Greg in central Florida... Well for two more days.
Ability to problem solve very important in later maths as problem becomes less obvious. Skills can only be learnt through exposure
Have Ss complete a quick check after initial instruc. Then go to leaning stations or sm group with T according to need.
I recently learned about the daily 5 and I'm trying to implement it in my classroom.
We run stations twice a week where students rotate to the different areas. Some are teacher led.
Q: Would this be clost to an example of applying a centers model in high school? If so, we're on it! https://t.co/NbDUXCEJ8N
In 4th and 5th we offer a lot of S choice in product and process.
of community, sharing, assisting one another https://t.co/ZYKpu5KDJX
Interactive learning centers can be great, we must remember to train every student on every center. Don't assume.
I don't really use structured centers. More of differentiated learning tasks/activities that students can choose from
I loved it! Did you read the book. It was fabulous. We have since switch to reading workshop.
4 any learning engagement it is dependent on If you questions was CAN not ARE I could answer
Good morning Lindes. Wish you were at
Guided math & reading center rotations are very popular at the elementary level. I know some Ts who make great use of them
Feel that centers can be digital in nature where instructions are given right on a page
it's a good point about secondary. I have never heard the term at the secondary level
Hmmm...great idea. I'm going to see if I can find a way to implement that.
buffet of choices keeps S engagement high, esp.when choices r critical think/problem solving activities. https://t.co/FwdxU0gnBh
Same here, although I give Ss full choice as to what they work on in the classroom...a buffet of choices.
I am well Carl. How are you? Cold here in CT. Protect those alpaca!
Today my kids are in small groups for tutorials, essay writing, and grade review. small purposeful groups.
Cool! Do you have more examples of how you apply the concept in a secondary setting? Thanks!
We want to organize a PD session like that. Difficult to do in 30 minutes and meet everyone's needs
Right now my Ss are in heterogenous reading groups on animals.
We have few resources, so centers helps us do things we couldn't do otherwise
I remember centers in my own elementary and middle school experience in the 1970s. They must have changed from then!
In High School there seems that battle to not use centres due to trying to get curriculum in limited time. However still relevant
Good morning topic today?
I went and observed a school that had implemented it. stole some strategies.
In my blended lessons Ss work at their own pace, have some options, but not really centers https://t.co/JPdAvrkkbQ
Centers/stations are becoming an important part of our planning as we move toward blended learning.
We're working using centers for high ability learners. How we can extend their understanding of same content w/out moving them ahead
Buy the book. Well worth the $$ I learned a lot about just teaching.
Me too! Seems like I'm missing all the cool kids. This month is the first I am hearing about it. Vox me.
Are stations a management tool for Ts? Do they stifle Ss? step closer 2 S choice & independent learning but there r limitations
its an AVID Class. we do tutorials there.
Good morning Jerry. I'll be pushing newbies to your session today.
Is that a new hashtag? Maybe we can get that one trending instead. https://t.co/kMkIYz8px6
Good Morning ! Stacey from NJ. Getting ready to tackle Thursday!
I have pics and write ups. If you send me an e-mail address, I can share them with you.
Indeed! All the choice is within a PBL framework, so Ss are working on real-world activities they care about.
Do any of you use centers at the HS level? What does that look like?
we did the same thing... Beg, borrow, steal
Son had a baseball coach who ran practice w/ centers. Most effective baseball prac I've ever seen. Every1 was active no down time.
Ts are doing a lot of work in w and They will have more info!
centers good way to emphasize mult skills related to same Lang topic
Today im using stations because I have a class that works at vastly different paces. Helps the flow.
I was queen of centers a few years ago. I created literacy stations where my students rotated in pairs.
I teach kinder. 1-3 days of math content instruction in new topic. 3-5 days of centers.
How would you say that is different from a center? No specific locations?
The Daily 5 is pretty cool. You might also check out the Daily 3 when you are ready.
We use them in all classes, but in Sc and SS especially.
Good comment to share -- the designing of the tasks are key learning for all https://t.co/UfivrmSMa6
In High School there seems that battle to not use centres due to trying to get curriculum in limited time. However still relevant
Learning task stations = tablet, desktop, makerspace, room, = shared and dedicated space for identified task
Teehee! Love it! is my new mantra for today!
I'm thinking up a quest based one where we have different paths that eventually lead to the same result. https://t.co/gFUEwKtfrg
Today im using stations because I have a class that works at vastly different paces. Helps the flow.
Centers and blended learning allows for true differentiation... We have seen a huge upswing in student engagement / confidence
I think centers are a tool. I don't use them all the time, but you need to know your class; I use them differently all the time.
I do Learning Centers in my 6th Grade World History Class ... https://t.co/rsgb0t7wOF ... kids like it, but a work in progress
I do Learning Centers in my 6th Grade World History Class ... https://t.co/ZiemAE8M0P ... kids like it, but a work in progress
Remember literacy stations..lots of stations! I tried, but I couldn't keep up!
yes, I see centers in coaching all the time to emphasize skill sets
Exactly. And for some reason students engage more than in whole group activities https://t.co/1kC2dINr9T
Centers and blended learning allows for true differentiation... We have seen a huge upswing in student engagement / confidence
agree with Ss working at own pace & being challenged just find 'centres' can be limiting for some Ss depends on set up
that's how I run my volleyball practices. It's the most effective way. All my players get to focus on a variety of skills
You should have made the trip, I think "friend giving keynote" is a line item in the budget
I would think it would be easier at secondary. Written instruction cards, everybody go. Not true?
I would think it would be easier at secondary. Written instruction cards, everybody go. Not true?
Right there...that's the value of "centers"!! https://t.co/WnARK0Eobv
Centers and blended learning allows for true differentiation... We have seen a huge upswing in student engagement / confidence
All working on same project just own pace. Not really changing process or task. https://t.co/NUU0StJn6R
How would you say that is different from a center? No specific locations?
I will say that using stations means I have to be much more vigilant about classroom management.
Are they open-ended? Are Ss able to offer feedback about what they like/dislike? https://t.co/9xDfuf4Lw4
Are stations a management tool for Ts? Do they stifle Ss? step closer 2 S choice & independent learning but there r limitations
If I understand the concept, we may be doing something close in my HS, although we don't use the name. Needs study.
why same result? do all students have to do the same thing to demonstrate learning? progress? understanding?
learning stations or centers TR topic
Are you doing math, ela or both? https://t.co/W7IzdmvJ0w
The Daily 5 is pretty cool. You might also check out the Daily 3 when you are ready.
Don't you think centers is such a broad term? It can all be cooperative/jigsaw learning as well.
Any activity where Ss need to nut things out in a group will see skills emerge that you didn't know about in different students
I agree. My centers look very different this year - more independence last year. Kids need more direction this year.
In elementary we write simple instructions & ask kids to follow them - creates independence
Take a fair bit of planning...if T-driven...but can offer variety, choice, challenge, individualized learning opportunities.
I had a great management system in place. It was wonderful. But then we had new program so I had to stop https://t.co/UvMURlrYLl
Remember literacy stations..lots of stations! I tried, but I couldn't keep up!
One of my centers is a Discussion Station where we read articles ... breakin' it down
Love the idea of partner work! https://t.co/LW64DxibEp
I was queen of centers a few years ago. I created literacy stations where my students rotated in pairs.
Have a super day everyone!
I would hope so, Ss feedback for goal setting, learning opportunities and self management
Great point! Used that concept in science classroom in cases when equipment & computers were limited. (Now 1:1)
Have a great day I have to leave a few minutes early today!
Yes, they are doing the same thing, but engaging the task in their own way
Sorry I'm late...more snow to shovel this morning...winter is really here in Ontario! ☃☃☃
That's how my son's coach ran football practice too. Everyone works
Keep that snow up there! Don't send any down here! lol
result might not have been best choice of words. I'd like them to cover base material. and to progress.
