Mr. Quigley’s class at Coal City Early Childhood Center has been hard at work on their center contracts—a system designed to help students practice and reinforce the skills they’re learning in the classroom.
Each student receives a contract listing ten different centers. Throughout the week, they work independently to complete each one. The centers are organized in tubs, and students may choose which center to work on at any time, with a limit of three students per center. Some centers require individual work, while others involve small-group collaboration. There is no strict time limit; once students finish a center, they cross it off their contract and select their next task.
At the end of the week, Mr. Quigley reviews the completed work with each student. Any unfinished or incorrect work is corrected, and once everything is completed, students earn free play time as a reward. Center contracts are a great way to build independence, responsibility, and accountability in the classroom.