Special education classrooms thrive on centers! I love incorporating centers into my upper elementary (grades 3-5) classroom schedule because they allow me to provide activities tailored to students’ needs, while also helping my students learn to work independently. Looking for center ideas to use with bigger kids? Read on for some ideas that my students and I love!
Reading Center Ideas
Simple Comprehension
The monthly Simple Comprehension stories and activities are perfect for using in centers! Each monthly set comes with four stories. Students can work with a paraprofessional to read the story, practice vocabulary, answer comprehension questions, and complete sequencing activities. Students with stronger reading skills can complete the activities with independence. Because the activities are the same each week, the routine is easy to complete for students.
Word Building
My students love working with these wooden letters and word cards! (affiliate link) They are great for a variety of student levels. Students who are still working on letter-recognition can use these cards as a matching activity. Students who are working on phonics will be able to tap out the words after they read them. If you already have plastic or wooden letters, you can also make your own word cards that match what students are working on!
Math Center Ideas
Simple Math Activities
The Simple Math Workbooks are great for teaching and reinforcing math skills! Once students have started mastering these skills, they can complete pages independently. Tip: Laminate the pages or place them in page protectors so students can do the work with a dry erase marker, and you can reuse them over and over!
Telling Time
One of my favorite center ideas is telling time. This is such an important life skill for all students! Using the activities from the Simple Math: Time Workbook, I created laminated task cards for students to practice their time skills. When paired with an analog classroom clock (affiliate link), students can practice telling and setting the time.
Pattern Blocks
Pattern blocks activities are a student favorite! Students can use these colorful wooden tiles to complete puzzles or make their own designs. Pattern blocks are great for reinforcing colors, matching, and shape-identification skills. They also lend themselves to higher-level concepts like fractions, area, and volume. Additionally, completing pattern block task cards helps develop problem-solving skills and spatial awareness. Here is a (affiliate link) to these!
Life Skills Center Ideas
Special education teachers are always looking for ways to increase independence and teach life skills. So, center ideas that incorporate these sills are an awesome addition to the classroom! Check out this free folding facecloths center! It is an easy way to implement a life skills center that students can be successful with.
Sensory Centers
Sometimes academic demands can be overwhelming for students with special needs. Providing a center choice that offers sensory input, like a kinetic sand bin, can help students regulate during work time.
What types of centers do you use in your classroom? Share your ideas below!
