Centres for Math lesson

Since I enrolled in the TAC program, we watch videos in class and the teachers in the videos like to use centres as part of their teaching and learning. I am not quite familiar with this idea of centre approach of teaching and learning. In my mind, it could invite chaos in the classroom easily and I never think of using centres in my teaching because I basically very sensitive to noise and I get easily annoyed in a noisy environment. But now I learnt that students learn better by having more interaction among peers, it can be more beneficial to their learning.



Last week, when I re-read my unit plan again and I found that I was running late in my teaching schedule; therefore, I asked one of my partner teacher Mrs. Bailey for adivce and I did not know why I suddenly asked her, "Should I use centres to teach so that I can cover more lessons?" And she told me that it was a good idea. Then I just go ahead and do it! When I had my students moving around different centres in class and learn about using different kinds of non-standard unit of measure I still have some doubt in my mind. Before I started out this lesson by explaining what to do when they were in that centre, and I spent about 20 minutes on the carpet and I explained it all to my students and I got an hour and a half of that day to teach Math. I was still worrying at first, but when students moved around and I saw that they were really engaged in the activities and I was able to relieve myself a bit because I saw them they were so excited with these hands-on activities and I thought I did a good choice on using centres to teach. Even though it created noise, but this was "good noise". They were not as chatty as before because they knew if they spend time chatting, they would miss their class time. I felt that this lesson had been a successful lesson since it created more opportunities for students to share their learning and understanding. Now I feel more confidence to use "Centre Approach" in my teaching. I did not say this lesson was 100% perfect but at least the Principal gave me the feedback was good. She said "It was a good lesson and the students were engaging in learning activities."

I remember I read a statement in this Grade 2 classroom: " You will never know until you try." Just give it a try, you will see the good things are awaiting for you!



Maria