ToolPorch / Classroom / Rotation Timer
Center Rotation Timer that runs the whole block
Name your stations, set the minutes, press start once — the timer runs every rotation, chimes the moves, and projects who goes where. You teach your small group; it runs the room.
Why a rotation timer beats a plain timer for centers
With a plain timer, every rotation costs you an interruption: the timer ends, you look up from your small group, reset it, announce the move, redirect the three students who went to the wrong station, and restart. Four rotations means four interruptions of exactly the group that needs your attention most. A rotation timer collapses all of that into pressing start once: the chime announces the move, the "MOVE" transition gives a realistic 30 seconds to travel, the next rotation starts itself, and the mapping table on the projector answers "where do I go?" without you.
Setup that survives real classrooms
Station names and settings save on your device, so Tuesday's literacy block is one click after Monday's setup. The rotation math is deliberately simple — groups advance one station each round in room order — because clever rotations confuse eight-year-olds and simple ones don't. If a rotation needs to end early (fire drill, assembly schedule), Skip to next advances immediately without losing the sequence.
Frequently asked questions
How does it know which group is at which station?
Groups rotate one station forward each round: in rotation 1, Group 1 is at Station 1; in rotation 2, Group 1 has moved to Station 2, and so on, wrapping around. The mapping table updates every round so the projector always shows who goes where — the question that otherwise gets asked 25 times.
Can I add transition time between rotations?
Yes — set transition seconds and the timer inserts a short "MOVE" countdown between rotations, with its own chime when work resumes. Zero means rotations run back-to-back.
What happens when all rotations finish?
A finishing chime and a "Done" screen. With 4 stations and 4 rotations, every group visits every station exactly once.
Does it keep time if the tab is backgrounded?
Yes — it tracks the actual clock, so checking your email doesn’t shorten Station 3.
Do station names get saved?
Yes, on your device — tomorrow’s setup is one click. Nothing is sent to us.