Centers are my best friend in my self-contained special education classroom. If you’re anything like me, I can think of a million reading centers, but I have a harder time coming up with math centers. I have 3 math centers I use all year long. They are tried and true, simple math centers you can implement in your classroom.
Center 1: Simple Math Curriculum
My first math center I use all year long is the Simple Math Curriculum. You can read more about the Simple Math Curriculum in Alyssa’s blog HERE. In this center we work on the adapted books and workbooks for each unit. I love using this as my teacher table center, but this can also be a great para run center if you have the ability to have more centers in your classroom! An example of my weekly rotation for this center is:
- Monday: Introduce topic
- Tuesday: Read adapted book
- Wednesday: Worksheet skill practice
- Thursday: Worksheet skill practice
- Friday: Review adapted book & take data
Center 2: Math File Folders & Task Boxes
The next math center I use all year long is a file folder and task box center. I have 2 stations for this independent center that one para supervises. For this center, I utilize the math file folders from the Simple Math Curriculum for the unit we are working on.
I love utilizing my 3 drawer independent work system for this center. You can find the labels you need to create your own 3-drawer independent work center HERE. I love this center because teaches independent work skills and math skills!
I also use my task box library for this math center. My task box library looks very similar to Alyssa’s above! The blue labeled boxes are all math task boxes. Some of the activities you can find in my math task boxes are counting puzzles, clip counting cards, color matching, shape matching, number matching, and much more! You can find the labels I use to create my task box library HERE!
Center 3: Math Boom Cards
The third math center I use all year long is a para run Boom Card center. My students love Boom Cards! They are a great way to practice math skills, and you can take data on your students’ math goals at the same time. You can find some of my favorite math Boom Cards here. This could also make for a great independent center if your students are able to navigate an iPad, tablet, or computer independently!
I’ll be a centers girl for life, and these 3 math centers make it easy for me to prep our materials. You can mix and match any of these centers to best fit the needs of your students. I typically have one teacher center, a para run center, and a para supervised independent center. You can modify these centers however you need for your classroom. What are some of your favorite math centers? Let me know in the comments!
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