It's No Secret - I Love Station Teaching

Can it be a little chaotic?  At first...
Does it require clear communication of expectations?  Most definitely...
Do students need to practice how to perform in stations?  Yes...

Do you have to let go of control?  Yes...but that's because students are gaining control, taking responsibility for their own learning and remaining engaged in their learning when they see a purpose in each station's activity.  Take a look at station teaching in action...

 

The key to strong stations are clear directions and expecations.  Teachers should be able to facilitate student learning and involvement by circulating in the room.  It helps to have a system in place for when kids need help (i.e., ask yourself, ask a neighbor, ask the whole group, ask the teacher) so that you don't run ragged supporting students who want to skip the directions.

 

 

In this case, stations work great to use the computers to enter eValuate data, saving instructional time while providing great learning and practice opportunities.

Some things I found successful when using stations in the classroom:  1) don't be afraid to let them take multiple days; 2) have a system in place for students who have questions, as identified above; 3) have someone proofread your directions for clarity before giving them to students; and 4) have a variety of activities for differentiation and varied learning strategies.

If you have questions/thoughts about trying stations in your classroom, let me know - I'd love to help!