This letter is designed to help you understand what a learning center is and what are its advantages for your children. Such a useful tool for teaching and learning could benefit learners in a variety of ways. With your help, we could create a wonderful learning center that will help make early education work better for each child.
A learning center is a designated area within the classroom that serves a purpose of developing certain skills or knowledge in children. Physically it can be presented as a table with figurines, a color-marked area filled with various interactive objects such as balls, baskets, pictures, and so on. Learning centers can, for example, be aimed at developing an understanding of seasons. Thus, four areas around the classroom may be designed to teach children about each of them through interaction with objects associated with the seasons. According to the Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, the tasks in learning centers could involve different subjects such as math and English language. The learning tasks may include puzzles, reading or writing assignments.
Learning centers may be centered on forming knowledge about the real life situations like navigation in the city or crossing a road. Consistent with Gardner’s theory is the idea that learning centers demonstrate openness in sharing knowledge and learning through problem-solving. In this way, children may develop autonomy and become active decision-makers. Being sincere as an educator and providing information as it is, could help children develop integrity as well.
A teacher’s job in congruence with Piaget’s adaptation theory is in guiding children and provide new information in a comfortable environment. They will also act as arbiters and regulators who gently, yet firmly engage students to act within the rules of learning scenarios. Finally, they should be evaluating the progress of each individual and notify parents of the need for corrective action.
An important part of learning centers is movement, which assists in applying the received knowledge through interaction and manipulation. The usage of developmentally appropriate practice will be imbued with cleaning up initiatives in learning centers to foster responsibility or using puzzles to develop logical thinking. Encouraging them to use multiple ways of thinking will contribute to the well-roundedness of their perspectives.
The assessment will be outcome-based with pre-designed learning goals, objectives and scales. The students will be divided into groups of three in order for each of them be properly engaged in activities and provide data gathering opportunity for the teacher.
Parents will be welcome to actively join the activities as characters of scenarios who help or challenge children to develop their cognitive skills, progressing further up the Bloom’s taxonomy. One or two people from the group of volunteers will be selected and notified beforehand to help prepare the learning center activities. A thematic learning center chat with parents will be created to communicate the ideas and requests. There we will share the information about the needed materials or items.
Learning centers are a great way to develop children’s potential and encourage them to apply their knowledge of basic life concepts in a more practical and academic way. Should the idea reach and motivate you to participate in any possible way, you could contact me and share your thoughts and ask further questions. Let the children be more proactive and eager to learn!