Learning Stations are the way to go

Use learning stations in your final days of school to keep up their energy levels.

This is an engaging and entertaining formative assessment. With a little preparation and careful instructions, students can rotate through several novel based activities with simply a “rotate” from the teacher every 9-10 minutes.

Using stations with older students creates interest and adds engagement to any lesson. A student that was previously listless will sit up and take notice when asked to work as a team to accomplish several tasks in a timely manner. The stations are fast moving and usually produce a product. Upper level students enjoy the fast pace and high interest of station work. This activity takes a little planning, but when in process the educational component becomes a student driven learning experience.

Learning stations require a little preparation. Read the station instructions for the necessary supplies: markers, construction paper, computer paper, scissors, glue sticks, laptop or Smartboard, tape. Each one varies. If a station requires extra items I will note it with an asterisk at the bottom of the page.

Before beginning a session of stations I ask the students to leave any personal items on the outside edges of the room. I tell them that they will rotate in a clockwise direction when I give the call to switch. Walk around to each station and give a brief synopsis of what will go on. Let students know that anything they make should be taken with them to the next station. They should straighten up their current station before moving on.  This learning structure really lets the teachers become the facilitator and the student becomes the creator. It’s that 80% vs. 20% relationship that we all strive for.

Check out some of my learning stations:

Romeo and Juliet Literacy Stations

Poetry Stations for Middle School and High School

Night :Novel Learning Stations