Starting centers at the beginning of the week is often a confusing time for students, even if they have been doing it for months--it takes time to know what and where the centers are and in what order they should be done. Making a center map helps your kids because it provides an accessible reference; students that miss the first day of center activities benefit greatly from this map. Make the center map by drawing the tables and/or center areas in your room. Laminate this so that you can change the map according to what center is at each table by using wipe-off markers.