Little Warriors

A Kindergarten Blog

Centers work-Check it or just send it home?

I recently had a conversation with another teacher about centers. As you may know, I think it is very important for the centers that I do to have some kind of a response sheet to go with it to help keep the kids accountable for doing the activity. Yes, that means MORE papers accumulate…more to grade. The teacher that I talked to said she doesn’t check centers papers. She just has them put them in their folders when they are done to take home.
I understand that it’s just more to grade and takes more time…but if you’re not looking at the papers-how do you know that they are doing quality work, or even doing the work at all??? AND most importantly, how do you know if they are doing the activity correctly??? What if they don’t understand the activity or the skill???…you may never know.
I think that immediate feedback on their centers work is crucial!!! How do you get those kiddos who mess around at center time and don’t do a whole lot of anything motivated????
Here’s what I’ve been doing this year….
This pocket chart is where all of the centers work from the day goes. Each time a student finishes a paper from centers-they must have it checked and starred by an adult and then it goes into this pocket chart. Each Kinder has their very own pocket.

Here is my first motivator:) This is what I star the kiddo’s papers with. We call them “monster markers”. They are actually Scentos Markers from WeVeel. I stumbled across them one day at the Dollar Tree and bought the last 4 of them up. I haven’t been able to find any since…but have emailed the company-so I’ll let you know where to find them if I hear back from them:) These ADORABLE markers are smelly!!!!! So, each time I put a star on their paper-they LOVE to smell it. They are a HUGE hit with my class….the BLUE one is the class favorite:) One of my little guys always requests the blue one. when he gets a star he takes a big whiff and says “MMMMMM! That’s the GOOD stuff!” LOL! I ONLY use these markers for centers papers-or I think the novelty would wear off:) 
At the end of the day, after we’re all packed up-the kiddos get to work on their Math Journals. During this time, I pull out each kiddos papers from centers that day and call them up one at a time. Most of them will have all of their work done and will get a stamp on their Star Papers chart. I got this idea from Deedee at Mrs. Wills Kindergarten! She’s BRILLIANT! Check out her post HERE.  To get a stamp, they have to have ALL of their work finished and NEATLY done. They MUST have their name on their papers to get a stamp and ALL of their papers MUST be in the pocket.  If any of these things are not done, then they don’t get a stamp for the day…and yes, I’m very strict about this:) Most of them learn their lesson pretty quickly and things are done correctly next time.
This time also gives me a chance to talk to students who may have not understood the skill. It gives me the chance I need to talk to them about it and what they should do differently next time.
Here is an example of a stamp chart…..it’s SOOOOO NOT cute!!!
 So, I decided to spruce it up a bit:) Here is what I came up with. “Rock Star Papers” sounds so much cooler:) click on the image below to grab your copy:

Why is it so important to them to get a stamp???? Because when they get 5 stamps, they get to pick a sucker from our sucker pull bouquet. (Sorry, it’s lookin’ a little bald in this picture!!) I’m really sorry that I don’t remember where I originally saw this idea-but the kids LOVE it!!!

 Here’s why it’s sooooo exciting!!!! Some of the suckers are marked with blue on the ends of them. If they get a sucker with a blue tip-we call it a BONUS!!!! They get to go pick an extra treasure from the treasure box:) If there’s no blue tip-no worries:) They still get to eat their sucker:)

 So, that’s it. That’s how I get to and go through all of their centers work. It’s all done the same day that the work was completed. I think this immediate feedback for the kiddos is crucial in making your centers run smoothly AND you don’t have any extra work to take home and grade!!! Works out great for everyone:)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jayme

    I totally agree that grading center work is a must. If we are not checking our students work and holding them accountable, than centers go from purposeful to simply a way to fill time. I also check my student center work immediately. I really like the idea of the star chart though. I don't do any thing like that right now, but thanks to you I plan to start!

    Reply

  2. Buggy In Kindergarten

    Oh my! I love this! Here lately I tend to have papers pile up and on Fridays have a stack of papers to go through and stamp. Where did you get your huge pocket chart? Also, I love love love your sucker tree! I'm tempted to go out right now and buy the materials to make one of my very own!

    Reply

  3. Ms. Chrissy B

    These are great ideas! I agree- if you just send it home, there's no accountability for the kid, and they could be doing all sorts of crazy stuff (misconceptions) during that time, and you'd never know!

    I'm bad about keeping up with things like that, so I'm impressed at your structure and organization. Thanks for inspiring me to think about mine!

    Reply

  4. Karyn

    Hi Katie!

    Love your ideas!!! Just wanted to share with you that I've seen these markers at Michael's craft store. I hope you have one near you! If not let me know, I could always get you some and send them to you. I think they are $.99! Bargain! Again, thanks for sharing all your great ideas! I read them!

    Kideducator@comcast.net

    Reply

    • Katie Mense

      Get out of town!!! You found them at Michael's?!? I read on their website that they carried them at Michael's, but when I went to the one in my area-they didn't have them!!!! Guess I'll have to keep searching!!! Thanks for giving me hope:)!!!!!

      Reply

  6. Vickie

    I can't believe someone would not check it! Why even bother to make the copies? I check mine everyday while my kids eat snack. Students who I can tell tried their best get to hang it on our Wow Work board and if it's extra good, they get a smartie pants. They love hanging their work up! Love the pocket chart!
    I also think it might send the wrong message to parents if you send home work that might be wrong.
    Vickie
    Mrs. Plant's Press

    Reply

  8. CA-scrappin

    Such fabulous ideas. Thanks for sharing. I do think it is important to check their work. I have some who shove it in their cubby thinking I won't ask for it, but I always do. I like they reward part of it. Next year when I have 10 less kids I can add that part, just not enough time with 32

    Reply

  10. Anonymous

    I have the same pocket chart and I got it FREE from Highlights. If you send in 15 responses you can send off for the pocketchart.

    Reply

  12. Becky M.

    I never knew! I just love coming to your blog and seeing what goes on while Jacob's at school with you 🙂 I am also LOVING the story books the kids have written and you have sent home with them. We have read them together and he has a smile beaming across his face because he's soo proud of the work he's done. You are such a fantastic teacher and I'm soo thankful for all you do for the kids. Jacob loves school and you definitely deserve the credit for that! Becky

    Reply

    • Anonymous

      I just want to second what a OUSTANDING teacher you are Katie! Don't think we can tell you enough how much we appreciate what you do for the kiddos! 🙂 Felicity's Mom

      Reply

  13. Kathleen

    Ooohhh….Katie! I'm going to be on the hunt for these markers now! LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!

    I quickly check my kiddos work — if I don't have a ton of time I just scan it to see if they basically got it and then check it more closely later. I don't want papers to go home that are completely wrong – parents will think that I'm not doing my job!! I usually make them correct their work too.

    Reply

  14. Anonymous

    I work with a teacher that grades NONE of her kids work, ever! I don't know how she gets away with it, but she does. Just wanted to share that.

    Reply

  16. School Sparks Renee

    Those markers are a great idea — and you're smart to not overuse them in the classroom. One question… do you let the kids eat the suckers during class or do they get to take them home with them? Just curious… 🙂

    Reply

    • Katie Mense

      Yes, I let them eat the sucker while they work on their Math journals…but they MUST be busy working:) I have taken suckers before and told them they couldn't have them back until their work was finished:)

      Reply

  17. Marta

    Olá Katie, sou brasileira e moro no Nordeste do Brasil. Encontrei seu blog e estou encantada por ele, parabéns. Sou professora de crianças de 4 e 5 anos em uma creche pública na minha cidade e mãe de um menino de 6 anos. Por isso gosto de sempre procurar formas interessantes de meus alunos e filho aprenderem de forma mais facil, divertida e prática. Parabéns pelo belo trabalho.

    🙂

    Reply

  20. Kimberley

    I totally agree that center work must be graded. It gives me a sense of how the kids are learning new work as well as remembering older material. In First Grade I struggle with how to share what they didn't understand with them. They don't look over their corrected work and don't always remember why they got it wrong.

    Glad I found you! I'm your newest follower.

    Kimberley
    First in Maine

    Kimberley
    First in Maine

    Reply

  22. Ms. D

    Oh…my…word…you have saved my sanity! I ran across your post a few weeks ago and have started using the Rock Star folders and the sucker pull and it is FABULOUS!! The quality of work is better and I don't have 8 million papers added to the mess I call a desk each day! Easy peasy system. My hair thanks you!

    Erica
    The Eagle's Nest
    littlesoaringeagles.blogspot.com

    Reply

  23. Eileen Moran

    Katie,
    I don't even know you and I feel like I owe you so much! My name is Eileen. This is my fourth year teaching pre-kindergarten for a school district on Long Island. However, this is my first year doing literacy centers. I have "stolen" so many of your ideas, and each one has worked out beautifully!! You have been such a MAJOR help to me! I use your Rock Star grid for behavior management, and your lollipop tree (which my kiddos are OBSESSED with!) I just cannot THANK YOU enough lol! Also, I searched all over Long Island and FINALLY found the Scentos markers! My students love when they finish their center work and get a delicious smelling happy face on their paper 🙂 I would be truly honored if you ever took a minute to check out my blog (I just started), but I did mention you in my last post 🙂 http://www.prekinderdelights.blogspot.com Thanks again! <3 Eileen

    Reply

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