Top 5 Methods for Improving Learning Centers In Preschools and Pre-K (+ FREE Learning Center Guide)

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Time young children spend in learning centers is precious for their development. And yet, it’s one of those strictly school-related activities, which is why we must do our very best to set them up for success.

Creating a successful learning center requires lots of strategic planning and effort. There are many questions you need to answer first, including…

How many centers should you create?
How long should the center time be?
What are the centers going to be about?
How will your students know which centers to go to?

I know, right?! Makes your head spin! And that’s just barely scratching the surface.

Luckily, in over 20 years of teaching, along with 11 years in mentoring early childhood educators, I’ve gained plenty of experience with learning centers, as well as methods for improving and fine-tuning learning centers.

For this episode of Elevating Early Childhood, I’m going to share my top 5 methods, along with some additional tips to help tie everything together.

Alrighty, Changemakers! Let’s get to it!

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Key Takeaways:

- How to create learning centers that set kids up for real success (00:00)
- Questions you NEED to answer before creating a great learning center (01:39)
- Do THIS if you’re having challenges with learning centers (02:35)
- My top methods for fine-tuning your learning center time and make it run smoothly (06:29)
- Method 1: Applying labels so kids could recognize and organize them easier (7:24)
- Method 2: Creating a picture schedule for clarity on the order of their daily activities (8:48)
- Method 3: Making visual routines explaining how each learning center works (10:36)
- Method 4: Adding a visual planning component to your center time (11:54)
- Method 5: Implementing a cleanup routine at the end of center time (15:20)
- Real results from someone who implemented these learning center methods (16:48)

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Additional Resources:

💠 Visit our website to find tons of pre-K teaching resources here:

💠 Get my book “Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers” here:

💠 Get my FREE guide on how to create successful learning centers here:

💠 Get our Teacher Success Bundle:

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Elevating Early Childhood is an early education podcast dedicated to helping Pre-K, Preschool, and Kindergarten teachers teach better, save time, and live more.

If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.

Onward & Upward! 🙌

#vanessalevin #prekpages #learningcenters

[neldarust]

Vanessa, I am retired now and have been for about 11 years. I can't believe it! I still love watching your videos. Your methods for teaching pre-k were so helpful to me. I miss Pre-K. When I watch your videos it makes me wish I were younger and back in the classroom. Thank you for being an inspiration to me and teachers everywhere. You make managing a classroom so much easier. <3

[Savingsamespot]

I admire your capacity to adapt and survive, and become successful, while training in pleasant classroom atmosphere, such small children!

[nestledin]

I’m a homeschooler and make centers for my kids all the time. Lol. They love it.

[debraholmes]

Love all of your videos. Such a wealth of knowledge. Very validating as a facilitator of children!! Thank you for all your hard work for educators.❤️

[alwaysbecollectin]

How long should children be in centers for

[Playing_with_a_Purpose]

Agreeed, the more we organized our toys/ the more children will become independent

[colleenstauffer]

Thank you for a fantastic presentation!! I enjoyed and learned from your video!!

[angelamatthew]

Thanks so much for this wonderful video I will use these ideas in my classroom in September.

[mziamandeki]

Great ideas! How do you do centers considering social distancing?

[jackzolinejordaan]

You look amaizing with your curls.Thank you for all tbe freebies.

[susanwilliams]

Love how inspiring you are. I enjoy your videos and I know how I will spend much of my Summer.

[homesew]

Thank you so much for sharing this valuable learning information.

[elainechavez]

So excited to use these great ideas for coming school new year! Love to have these game changers to help my early learners at circle time!

[sukanyasinsuwan]

Thank you so much for your hard works and sharing with me 😘..
Can you please share me how to teach basic line tracing to preschoolers please please…😘😘

[theFaith]

I need a mentor!! This year is the most chaotic ever and I’m failing. I’m the director! I need help. I’ll pay! Heeeelllppp!

[l]

Love everything you do. I learned so much from you. Thanks.

[kathie]

My children are successful in centers, they are engaged, they know what to do there because I took the necessary time to teach expectations, shelves are well labeled, they know how to work on the tasks I have given them. I have displayed appropriate expectations, descriptions of the skills acquired there, etc. I have all of the signs up to justify them to parents & administrators. I would like to know how to deal with administrators who conduct “best practice” walks & come into our early childhood environment critiquing without truly understanding what is appropriate in Pre-K? I’m not shy, I do speak up & I know the jargon to use. I can’t make these administrators read the signs in my centers. I can’t make them realize that what’s appropriate for upper grades is not necessarily appropriate for Pre-K. Any advice?

[jeanlouise]

Just wanted to say I really like your new hairstyle !

[hyacinthreno]

You looked so beautiful with your new hairstyle.

[jackzolinejordaan]

Love your culs beautiful .thanks alot for your advice