I love using centers in my classroom! They give me an opportunity to differentiate my instruction, because I can meet with small groups while the rest of my class in engaged in meaningful activities. Planning for centers can be time-consuming, though. That’s why I love the Take It to Your Seat Centers from Evan-Moor! All you have to do is put the materials in a folder, and they’re ready to use!
Take It to Your Seat Centers
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Evan-Moor has a whole series of Take It to Your Seat Centers. They are available for geography, science, math, literacy, phonics, and writing. Each book has full-color centers that are completely ready to use.
I used to spend at least 30 minutes planning a single center. I had to type all the directions, create the response sheets, and gather all the materials. When I use the Take It to Your Seat Centers, I just have to choose a folder and I’m done.
The first time you use the centers, there is a little bit of prep work, but once it’s done you can use the centers forever.
These are the steps to setting up the centers the first time you’re using them:
- Tear the center pages out of the book.
- Copy the response sheet.
- Cut and laminate the center cards. Put them in an envelope.
- Put all the materials in a folder.
I like to prepare all the centers as soon as I get a new book. That way, they are completely ready when I need them.
I store all the folders in a magazine holder. When I need one, I just pull it out and put it on the table in my classroom. It’s ready to go without me doing anything.
Take It to Your Seat Center Materials
Each center comes with all the materials you need.
They each have:
- A full color cover for the front of your folder
- Step-by-step directions for your students
- A page explaining the concept covered by the center
- A response sheet for your students to fill in their answers
- Cards to practice the skill – many of the centers have two sets of cards so the students can do it more than once.
Ways to Use Take It to Your Seat Centers
#1 – As a Literacy Center
If the rest of your class does centers while you meet with strategy groups or guided reading groups, the literacy, phonics, and writing Take It to Your Seat Centers are perfect!
When I did Daily 5, I had five centers each week: reading strategy practice, writing, word study, technology, and independent reading. I spent at least two hours planning my centers each week. I wish I had the Take It to Your Seat Centers then!
The Literacy Centers are perfect for a reading strategy center. They cover concepts, like main idea and supporting details, synonyms and antonyms, prefixes and suffixes, and fact or opinion. Just choose the activity that matches what you’re teaching that week, and your center is ready to go.
The Literacy Centers are available for grades K-6. Just click the link below for your grade level.
The Phonics Centers are ideal for a word work center. They practice the vowel and consonant sounds, word families, and diphthongs and digraphs.
There are four different levels of phonics books. Click the link below to find the one that’s perfect for your students.
The Writing Centers will keep your students engaged at your writing center. They cover lots of different types of writing, including expository and narrative. They also provide writing prompts and proofreading practice.
They are available for grades 1-6. Click the link below for your grade level.
#2 – As a Guided Math Center
If you use guided math in your classroom, the Take It to Your Seat Math Centers are perfect for one of your rotations. I use them for my problem-solving group. Just choose the center that matches the math concept your class is working on or use them to review previously-learned skills.
The Math Centers are available for grades K-6. Click the link below for your grade level.
#3 – For Special Activities
I like to do centers on days when we’re doing special activities in science and social studies. For example, if there is a big science experiment, I often like to do it in small groups so everyone can see and be more involved in the fun. Then, I need to find activities for the other groups to do. The Take It to Your Seat Centers are perfect for these days.
The Science Centers cover concepts, like outer space, plants, animals, and states of matter. They are available for grades PreK-4.
The geography centers cover everything from globes and maps to states, countries, and continents. They are available for grades 1-5. Click the link below for your grade level.
#4 – Early Finisher Activities
You can also use the Take It to Your Seat Centers as early finisher activities. When students finish an assignment before the rest of the class, they can choose a center to complete.
All they have to do is pick a folder and take it back to their seat. They don’t have to interrupt you to tell you they’re finished. All of the centers can be completed independently.
Discover more ideas for your early finishers.
What Do You Think?
How would you use the Evan-Moor Take It to Your Seat Centers in your classroom?
Let me know in the comments below.
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