How I set up my centers

I change out my centers once per week. I have 5 centers each week and then computer, so I guess that makes 6. I don't really count computer because it takes no prep work for me. Ideally, each student goes to one center per day and will visit each center that week. In the past, I have had free choice centers and rotating centers in which a timer goes off and everyone rotates, but the problem with this for me is that each child finishes at different times. I decided that I would rather each child finish one center than half way finish three or four. So, you may ask what do they do when they are finished because one center can't take that long for everyone. I have a list of things to do on the board called the "I can..." List. I change this list up usually once per week also. This list is only to be done after the center is finished and must be done in order as the items are listed. Here is an example of what the list might look like:
I can...
1. U.F.O. (This is a folder we have for our unfinished only work). It has morning work that didn't get done on time.
2. Read "Frog and Toad Together" (or whatever the story is for the week)
3. Color Shock Spelling Words (color shock means write each letter with a different color crayon)
4. Write sentences with WWW (word wall words)
5. Read your A.R. book.
6. Get a book! (from our class library)

I can items are just extra work. They do not all have to be finished or have to be finished before recess. I refuse to call it busy work because all items are beneficial practice. I sometimes put WS on the list for skills we are struggling with or if there is a craft I want to make but there is no instruction time to do it, I will put it close to the bottom of the I can list to motivate them to get other items done.

I write each center name on a flower pot. The students' pictures are on the petals of the flowers. The petals can be taken off and moved as needed. I usually just move the center name each day to the next pot. I call the students I need for teacher center from their different groups because my center are heterogeneous groups. I like this better. I feel that they learn from each other more this way. I keep up with who has been to which center by a spreadsheet that I made on the computer. I just check them off before I move the center signs each day. You could also have a sheet for them that had all center names and they colored the square under that center name when they went to that center. I have done that before too. While students are cleaning up centers, I walk around to their desks and check center pages quickly with a smiley face so that there is no paperwork for later. If the center was not completed during the allotted time, it must be finished before recess. I do have some things I do for odd and even that I will post for you, but I want to take pics first. Let me know if you understand my centers.