Computer Center

Students will go on educational websites such as www.starfall.com.

My students also use ixl.com which is a math website. My school paid the membership.

I also have installed: various curriculum programs: Language for Learning, Reading Mastery and Touch Math Tutor.

Lastly, we use them for word processing tools or the school wide reading intervention program. 

Fine Motor

Fine Motor

 This will be a center that works on fine motor task such as:

-tracing
-lacing
-writing names
-writing letter/numbers
-cutting
-dot to dot
-clothes pin
-buttons/zippers
-puzzles
-sensory bins with tongs to take out mini toys

As my kids got more academic, I began to turn it into a writing center. They worked on grammar, punctuation and making paragraphs doing various strategies. We started teaching how to do drafts with draft sheets/graphic organizers and then transferring in nice and neat handwriting or typing (depends on students accommodations). Also, we would add higher thinking number skills such as missing number in charts and word problems. 

I am very big on writing!!! I hate that students are being shoved typing tools and forget how to even write their names, however I will accommodate word processors within activities just not all day longs... don't tell on me! ;)

Now the structure of fine motor....

You should have a box that has a work task strip letting each student know which task to work on. The order is from top to bottom. 

Add finished bin/baskets to the PECS to be placed as student complete each task. 

Also, don't forget to add a finish basket or tray. I added a finish tray for each student, it made it easier to file and sort at the end of the day.

Independent Work

The concept is based on TEACCH 3 task work system. You can address this in many ways. But one thing that you want, is to put either skills that they have mastered or skills that the student can complete INDEPENDENTLY! :)

You must start by creating a task strip that will direct the student to which basket they must select.
What you use may vary, you can use:
 -tangibles
-Letters
-numbers
-pictures

They will have a strip on their desk, and match with the given box that has the same thing.

Depending on the students intellectual level, make sure you provide a check list, or task analysis(step by step), some student can use words, others pecs and some need actual pictures.

What do you put in the baskets?? Depends on the route you want to go with each student or the aspect/guide you take.
But again that can vary on the students. It can be hands on, puzzles, matching task, completing worksheets, office skills and you can get very creative.

If you want ideas either google or pinterest!! Work task and you will have loads of pictures to give you ideas.

 The top shelf of the desk is where my students put the completed baskets for my assistants to check and ensure that they where completed correctly.

Make sure you have activities for those early birds. I had created a board that said.. when finished: and it has options. Puzzles, play doh or educational game/interactive educational toy/ or computer.

As I had older higher functioning students, I added a journal at the end of the work baskets. They had a daily topic or sequence pictures of 3 images that they had to describe. This helps with addressing fine motor and writing skills. But I needed my assistant to monitor and correct students.

Books/Listening/Math

When I started books and listening were separate centers, however I changed students so I combined the two together.

Books/Listening Center:
Students will listen to books on tape/cd and complete a worksheet on the story. It can be as simple as"
-I like the story :) I don't like the story :(. Draw a picture 
-Answer comprehension questions
-A fill in the blank story... student cant find the missing words or listen to the missing words.
-After they complete, they can read books.

Listening:
1.Listen to story
2. Language Master to review words (spelling/vocab/objects identification).
3. Listen to music.

Originally, books used to be read books alone and then receive Language for Learning by one of the assistants. This helped their language tremendously. I had to change it with time.

This center can be used in various ways. I also used this center for students to be exposed to general education curriculum. They can listen to gen ed reading series story or the gen ed intervention series.

The language master can be a time saving and efficient tool, however you must train your students how to properly and consistently use it. Most student need to be monitor as they will wait for you to turn around and not complete task appropriately.

I am going to explain what a language master does in case you have never seen it or heard of it.

The language master is a tool where you will record something, and students get to listen to it. The machine has 3 buttons, record, student, and teacher. After students press teacher to hear the teacher modeling, then they must click student button, and record button, to record the same thing they heard or you can become creative with what they record.
Make sure to monitor and listen to the cards, you will be surprised the things they record that was not suppose to be recorded... or make sure you watch what you say since when they record the background does too... LOL.

Here are some activities for the language master:

• Spell words
• Listen to "short" definitions
• Identify the picture shown
• Label picture showed.

Basically they are flashcards.  They sell blank ones or pre-made one. They can be expensive. So we recycle. You can velcro the cards but make sure is high on the card otherwise the card will not roll through the machine.




 Math Center:
Math was a center I added later on. This was to target daily math skills that students had previously learned.This will help reinforce skills and this ways students will review math everyday. I suggest you only put things students have done before and mastered, otherwise you will have to monitor center. You can also put hands on activities, and math games (if you feel brave). You want this to be an independent center. If you have lower functioning students, make sure you have task strips with each step. LABEL LABEL LABEL.