Centers provide structured, engaging learning environments that can be tailored to diverse student needs. When thoughtfully designed, these areas promote independence, skill development, and joy in learning. Here’s how to decide what to include in your special education centers.
Assessing Student Needs
The foundation for deciding what to include in centers starts with student assessment. Review each student’s IEP goals and objectives carefully. Consider sensory preferences that might influence how students interact with materials. Take into account varying abilities and learning styles within your classroom community. By identifying specific areas where students need additional practice, you can make informed decisions about what to incorporate in centers that target these skills.
Types of Centers and What to Include in Them
When deciding what to include in centers, consider addressing different learning domains:
Academic Skill Centers
When planning what to include in academic centers, focus on core curriculum areas. Consider a reading center with adapted texts at various levels, a math center with manipulatives to support concrete understanding of abstract concepts, and a writing center with visual writing prompts.
Sensory and Motor Development Centers
Consider fine motor skill development through activities like beading and lacing when determining what to include in sensory centers. Select sensory exploration items with varied textures and properties that engage multiple senses.
Life Skills Centers
Focus on functional routines in life skills centers. Consider activities such as sorting, organizing, and following multi-step processes. Additionally, simulating activities of daily living appropriate to your students’ ages and abilities are also great options for life skills centers.
Essential Elements to Include in Every Center
Visual Supports
Visual supports help build independence. Include clear visual directions and expectations in every center. Create visual task analyses for multi-step activities so students can follow sequences independently.
Differentiated Materials
When deciding what to include in centers, ensure materials accommodate various ability levels. Include options that provide both challenges and opportunities for success. Design activities with built-in scaffolding and extension possibilities.
Independent Learning Tools
Include self-checking mechanisms so students can monitor their own progress. Add visual timers and transition supports. Create clear start/finish indicators for each activity so students know when they’ve completed a task.
The process of deciding what to include in centers is ongoing. Regularly observe how students interact with materials and activities. Collect data on skill development and engagement. Use this information to refine and adjust what you include in centers over time. By focusing on student needs, curriculum priorities, and essential learning supports, you can create centers that meaningfully advance student progress.
Need support implementing centers in a way that actually works?
Check out the Simple Centers System™, your step-by-step solution to setting up, managing, and maintaining centers in a self-contained classroom—without overwhelm.
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