From June Waege, Tiny Treasures Lutheran Preschool in Mishicot, Wisconsin:
On paper, I make a circle as big as a paper plate and divide it into sections.  Each section represents a learning center in the classroom.  I then photocopy the circle for each child, cut it out, and glue it on a paper plate.  When a child has completed a center they get a sticker in that section on the plate.  Each month they get to take home their finished plates and the parents get to see what they've accomplished.
Note from Stormie: I love this idea not only because it provides incentive for the children, but because it also allows us to see which areas of the classroom are avoided by some children.  Is the child avoiding the area because it's too difficult for them?  If so, then we can work/play with them in that center, providing guidance and encouragement.

From Tricia, a home day care provider for 14 years: Hi Stormie, I have a variation to using clothespins for designating the number of children per center.  Each child paints their own version of a self-portrait on an old fashion wooden clothespin (the kind that slip over instead of spring load).  Once they dry, I write the child's name down the side.  The children learn name recognition and take great pride in having their own personal clip.  Keep extra clips on hand because, of course, some children "need" to create a new one when they get a haircut, or as one child said, "have to have an arm cast on." 

From Melinda , North Richland Hills, Texas: To limit the number of people playing in each center of our 3-yr old classroom, we have a large poster board chart hanging on the teacher's desk.  There are different colored squares on it, each with a picture of the center they represent.  Each square has a certain number of matching colored clothespins attached to it.  To play in a specific center, the child must take the appropriate colored clothespin and attach it to his shirt.  For example, a child playing with blocks would find a photo of blocks on the green square and take a green clothespin.  This helps children make immediate choices and helps teachers to quickly navigate the room and see that everyone is playing where they are supposed to be.  Anyone without a clip (or the wrong color clip) can then be asked to leave and choose something else.

From Vera Lopes, in San Carlos, California: When I label my containers, I print the word (ex: pegs) on a sticky label
and put that on the container.  I also take a photo of the pegs and contact it onto the container near the word.  Then I label my shelves, but using just the word only -- no picture.  This way children are matching word labels when putting the container back in its spot.

From Sheryl Bauer: Language Learning Center Idea: At an early childhood conference I attended, a presenter suggested using interfacing to make felt board stories from.  You can see through it enough to trace it and it can be colored, and it really does stick to felt.  At fabric stores, there are many types of interfacing to choose from with various textures.

Here's a nice idea no matter what our religious or spiritual beliefs: Cecill Bejer says, "How about a 'Prayer' Learning Center?  Ideally, it should be a dedicated corner where children can relax.  There should be plants, relaxation, big pillows, music, slides or pictures.  Mine is a Christian school so there will be particular days when we'll read a bible story, and other days when we will just be quiet, prayerful, perhaps even sleep.  I was inspired by the book 'Puddles Of Knowing -- Introducing Children To Prayer Life.'  It's the Asian version, by Marlene Halpin, Dominican.  The book recounts experiences the author had while working with children in a parochial school in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  She suggests that every school have a prayer room and make it a place where children discover a loving, personal God at an early age, as real to them as their own parents."  E-mail: cpbejer@nsclub.net

Related humor sent to me (Stormie) from Melinda Kelly:A teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew.  She would occasionally walk around to see each child's artwork.  As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked about the drawing.  The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."  The teacher paused and commented that no one knows what God looks like.  Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing the girl replied, "They will in a minute." 

From Julaine, in Cincinnati, Ohio: For your Fine Motor/Manipulatives Center or for a pretend "workshop": Toys R Us has tool sets by Home Depot that are for children of different age levels.  The tools are plastic but very durable.  In my center, Styrofoam is provided by my parents for cutting and sawing with small plastic saws and knives.  The children love it!

From Candace, in Albuquerque, New Mexico:
I observed a preschool headstart classroom and "Teacher Margaret" had a laminated posterboard showing a picture and name of each learning center.  There were pieces of velcro under each center (for example, 4 children could play in the kitchen so there were 4 pieces of velcro under that center picture).  There was also a little pocket nearby that contained little laminated square name tags with velcro on the back of them.  When it was Play Time, the children would go to the pocket and pick out their own name and place it under a center.  If a center's velcro spots were all filled, they knew they must place their name on another one.

From Kathleen in Southern California:
Puzzles Tip for Fine Motor Learning Center: I have the children place their puzzle pieces in a pie tin next to their puzzles on the table while they are working. This keeps the pieces from scattering and falling off the table.
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Reminder from Stormie: If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom ideas (each on a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you can do so by ordering my "Activity Cards."  Click here to check them out.