May do must do centers

Are you starting centers in kindergarten or first grade? Learn how to manage the chaos of centers and make centers the best part of the day in your kindergarten or first grade classroom here. This blog post is full of classroom management tips for centers and free centers classroom management resources to make math and literacy centers a success. Learn how to start centers, introduce and teach expectations for centers, and what to do when students finish centers early in your classroom.

One of the things teachers often struggle with is the idea of teaching small groups. Even if a teacher knows exactly what to do within the groups, there is the lingering question of “What are the other students doing while I am meeting with small groups?”. This is where “Must-dos and May-dos” come into play. #free #2ndgrade #1stgrade #mathcenters #daily5

Have you ever tried of a "must-do" / "may-do" system for managing your literacy centers? Learn how to use this centers management strategy in this post!

Since I started teaching last January, I have struggled with how to manage both my Reading and Math Centers. For a long time, I just went with your typical center rotations that were timed for 15-20 minutes each and the students rotated through them over 2 days, but I was never truly happy with how they were working. I felt like I wasn't getting enough time with some of lower groups and that some students (who really need the practice that center activities offer) just were not getting…

Grab this FREE Must Do May Do Guide that includes everything you need to start up your reading centers in a Must Do May Do format instead of rotating reading centers. You and your students will love this format. Have more time to teach your guided reading groups while students work at their own paces. Check it out!

Trying to manage centers better? Do you want to give flexibility, while keeping students on task and at work in centers? Try incorporating these fun & engaging visuals! Posters/signs include: may-do work (mayonnaise jar) must-do work (mustard bottle) catch-up work (ketchup bottle) pick one (pickle) The kids are sure to identify with these fun and eye catching visuals, keeping them on task and doing what you want them to do! Both mini posters (4 to a page) and full size (1 to a page) posters…

Why I Can't Do Guided Math - How I Organize my Math Instruction in my 2nd grade classroom, centers, whole group, small group, must-do, may-do, formative assessments

For K-1 students, centers are one of the most developmentally appropriate things that you can do for them. Let me give you the break down on each of my 5 centers, and how I manage them!

Use mayonnaise, mustard, and other condiments to encourage student independence and responsibility. Mustard = must do work, Mayonnaise = may do work, Ketchup = catch up work, and Pickles = you pick activities or Pick a Good book and read. These posters are a great visual reminder to show students what's expected of them today! must domay docatch-up pick-one

Make center time in your classroom one that is filled with engaged learning and exploration. As students work independently you are ready to work with reading groups or do small group instruction. But getting your centers set up is the beginning. This blog post details your step by step process for setting up a center rotation that your students will love. It includes literacy center and math center ideas as well as tips for organizing centers all year long.