All Things CLASS

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I am always torn in deciding when to consider the restriction of movement during center time. Please share your thoughts on this scenario:

Before going to centers the teacher tells everyone which centers are available. Each center is equipped with a variety of materials, and all centers have hands-on activities. The children are expected to stay in the center they choose and if seen distracting children in other centers, they are directed to return to their own center.  If a child seems to lose interest in their center, they are sometimes asked if they would like to clean up and play somewhere else. But the free moving from the center to center is not the norm. Some students are seen to clean up and become engaged in a different center and are not directed back to their original choice. 

I am thinking since there are many choices within the centers, and the children are given freedom within the center it would not be a restriction of movement. Thoughts?

I definitely see this situation as restriction of movement and restriction of choice.  It can be challenging for a child who is very social, has a variety of interests, or a short attention span to remain productively engaged in the same learning center for the entire "choice" period.

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Susan Hinman Waldman
Practice Based Coach
Communities United Inc.
Lexington, MA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2022 12:56
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: stay in your center

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I am always torn in deciding when to consider the restriction of movement during center time. Please share your thoughts on this scenario:

Before going to centers the teacher tells everyone which centers are available. Each center is equipped with a variety of materials, and all centers have hands-on activities. The children are expected to stay in the center they choose and if seen distracting children in other centers, they are directed to return to their own center.  If a child seems to lose interest in their center, they are sometimes asked if they would like to clean up and play somewhere else. But the free moving from the center to center is not the norm. Some students are seen to clean up and become engaged in a different center and are not directed back to their original choice. 

I am thinking since there are many choices within the centers, and the children are given freedom within the center it would not be a restriction of movement. Thoughts?

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I agree and see this situation as restriction of movement and restriction of self-selected activity time where the child can choose what, where or who they will play with.  When children are assigned to centers/activity areas by staff for a specific amount of time and then staff determines that when the time is up they can move to the next center/area for a specific amount of time, that in my opinion is not free play, free choice, or opportunities for children to engage in self-selected activities.
Original Message:
Sent: 05-20-2022 10:10
From: Susan Waldman
Subject: stay in your center

I definitely see this situation as restriction of movement and restriction of choice.  It can be challenging for a child who is very social, has a variety of interests, or a short attention span to remain productively engaged in the same learning center for the entire "choice" period.

------------------------------
Susan Hinman Waldman
Practice Based Coach
Communities United Inc.
Lexington, MA

Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2022 12:56
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: stay in your center

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I am always torn in deciding when to consider the restriction of movement during center time. Please share your thoughts on this scenario:

Before going to centers the teacher tells everyone which centers are available. Each center is equipped with a variety of materials, and all centers have hands-on activities. The children are expected to stay in the center they choose and if seen distracting children in other centers, they are directed to return to their own center.  If a child seems to lose interest in their center, they are sometimes asked if they would like to clean up and play somewhere else. But the free moving from the center to center is not the norm. Some students are seen to clean up and become engaged in a different center and are not directed back to their original choice. 

I am thinking since there are many choices within the centers, and the children are given freedom within the center it would not be a restriction of movement. Thoughts?

I believe it would work better if the teacher use a timer. Set timer to buzz at about 10 or 15 minutes and the a every has to change to another center.

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Tammie MGamble
CollinsMS
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2022 12:56
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: stay in your center

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I am always torn in deciding when to consider the restriction of movement during center time. Please share your thoughts on this scenario:

Before going to centers the teacher tells everyone which centers are available. Each center is equipped with a variety of materials, and all centers have hands-on activities. The children are expected to stay in the center they choose and if seen distracting children in other centers, they are directed to return to their own center.  If a child seems to lose interest in their center, they are sometimes asked if they would like to clean up and play somewhere else. But the free moving from the center to center is not the norm. Some students are seen to clean up and become engaged in a different center and are not directed back to their original choice. 

I am thinking since there are many choices within the centers, and the children are given freedom within the center it would not be a restriction of movement. Thoughts?

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I think that is still restrictive. It means that the teacher is choosing when the children have to clean up, even if they are not done with their project or game. Some centers may need a timer, especially if it's a highly sought after center, maybe activities that are more "sandbox" that don't have an end goal, like the sensory table. But opening enough areas for all of the children to have choice, it's chaotic, but necessary. I think it's so important to start remembering how we would feel if it was us. Would you be happy if your supervisor micromanaged every single move you make, and made you move on to new tasks even if you weren't done with what you were working on?
Original Message:
Sent: 05-21-2022 21:33
From: Tammie M Gamble
Subject: stay in your center

I believe it would work better if the teacher use a timer. Set timer to buzz at about 10 or 15 minutes and the a every has to change to another center.

------------------------------
Tammie MGamble
CollinsMS

Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2022 12:56
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: stay in your center

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I am always torn in deciding when to consider the restriction of movement during center time. Please share your thoughts on this scenario:

Before going to centers the teacher tells everyone which centers are available. Each center is equipped with a variety of materials, and all centers have hands-on activities. The children are expected to stay in the center they choose and if seen distracting children in other centers, they are directed to return to their own center.  If a child seems to lose interest in their center, they are sometimes asked if they would like to clean up and play somewhere else. But the free moving from the center to center is not the norm. Some students are seen to clean up and become engaged in a different center and are not directed back to their original choice. 

I am thinking since there are many choices within the centers, and the children are given freedom within the center it would not be a restriction of movement. Thoughts?

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I have had situations in my classroom where due to safety concerns with students, we used assigned centers - note that the centers were more a choice of two or three centers in the room rather than one center.  However, children were still free to choose where they wanted to be within that area.  Our standard is to have children pick up their materials before moving to another activity, again at their choice of timing. 

This to me feels like restriction of movement, and also inconsistent messaging to the students.  Some are asked if they would like to play elsewhere?  Are all allowed to clean up and move elsewhere?
Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2022 12:56
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: stay in your center

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I am always torn in deciding when to consider the restriction of movement during center time. Please share your thoughts on this scenario:

Before going to centers the teacher tells everyone which centers are available. Each center is equipped with a variety of materials, and all centers have hands-on activities. The children are expected to stay in the center they choose and if seen distracting children in other centers, they are directed to return to their own center.  If a child seems to lose interest in their center, they are sometimes asked if they would like to clean up and play somewhere else. But the free moving from the center to center is not the norm. Some students are seen to clean up and become engaged in a different center and are not directed back to their original choice. 

I am thinking since there are many choices within the centers, and the children are given freedom within the center it would not be a restriction of movement. Thoughts?

If it has hands -on material and it engages children, then I don't think it is restrictive. Something that goes hand in hand with center time, is teacher interactions. It is important for teachers to rotate around the classroom intentionally playing with them and encouraging engagement. If a child seems bored, they need to have teacher support to engage. Sometimes i see centers set up, but the children really don't know what too do or how to use the material. Engaging with them also helps them focus and learn new tasks. Teachers don't need to be the all the time, but rotate around themselves.

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DinaliDhammapala
OlympiaWA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-19-2022 12:56
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: stay in your center

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I am always torn in deciding when to consider the restriction of movement during center time. Please share your thoughts on this scenario:

Before going to centers the teacher tells everyone which centers are available. Each center is equipped with a variety of materials, and all centers have hands-on activities. The children are expected to stay in the center they choose and if seen distracting children in other centers, they are directed to return to their own center.  If a child seems to lose interest in their center, they are sometimes asked if they would like to clean up and play somewhere else. But the free moving from the center to center is not the norm. Some students are seen to clean up and become engaged in a different center and are not directed back to their original choice. 

I am thinking since there are many choices within the centers, and the children are given freedom within the center it would not be a restriction of movement. Thoughts?