Preservice Elementary School teachers enrolled in Dr. Cynthia Smith's Teaching Mathematics in Inclusive Classrooms course have created interactive learning centers based on the York State Learning Standards for Mathematics.
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Interactive learning centers are small-group, hands-on activities that help students understand content in a game-like format. The centers are particularly useful for children who struggle to learn mathematics content during typical instruction.
Each semester, Dr. Smith solicits requests from area elementary school teachers. The requests are used to generate course assignments. If a teacher asks for centers, the group makes centers. Likewise, if a teacher asks for technology-based resources, the group generates those type of activities.
Over the past four years, more than 400 resources have been created and donated to local elementary classrooms. This fall, 30 centers were donated to Lisa Kobel's kindergarten class at Dunkirk Elementary School No. 5. The university students are in the process of creating centers for fifth graders at Dunkirk Elementary School No. 7 (Marcella Dolce's classroom) and a Fredonia Middle School Special Education class taught by Liz Wronski.
