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What Is Circle Time?

• Circle time is an opportunity for children to talk about their thoughts, feelings and any issues that are worrying them (show

puppets)

What are the benefits?

Why do we do it?

• Circle time enables teachers to listen to what the children think

• Builds children’s self esteem• Teaches children to listen to each

other• Teaches children to respect each

other

What are the rules?

• Be clear at the start of the lesson of the circle time rules

• Listen to each other• Respect each other• Feel safe to say how you feel without

being judged by anyone• Only one person should speak at once -

the talking object helps this rule • You can "pass" if you don’t want to speak

about something

What is circle time about?

• Circle time could be about anything

• It can cross link with any subject .For example it could cross link with History

• A Reception/Year 1 class could pass round a teachers very old teddy bear. What do we think about this teddy bear? Where is it from? How old is it? Why do you think that? Do you have a teddy bear? Is it old? How does your teddy make you feel? Why do people have teddy bears?

• This is a good way to assess the children’s knowledge of past and present tense and also talk about feelings/what makes us feel safe and comfortable- are all children lucky enough to have a teddy bear?

• Questions can open up the discussion to cross link with different areas PSHE/Geography/History and many more.

Class Issues

• Circle time can also be used to address issues within a class such as behaviour in the playground/friendships.

• Circle time is a good opportunity for children to try to come up with solutions to the problem without the teacher.

Why a Circle? • What’s so special about a circle?

• Everyone can clearly see and hear everyone else. • There is no front or back, no beginning or end, no ‘best’ or

‘worst’ position – everyone is in an equally good place to take part in the activities, including the teacher.

• Children see this as ‘fair’ and it helps teachers to work on the idea of equal respect for everyone, an attitude that is developed through circle time.

• When a class first starts to have circle time, the teacher will explain the rules clearly and keep reminding the children of them. However, as time goes by, the teacher will begin to be less of a ‘leader’ in the circle and aims to eventually take part in the same way as all the children.

Circle time activitiesThe activities in a typical circle time include :

• Short ‘rounds’ where children complete a phrase such as ‘Something I have really enjoyed this week is…’

• Debates on issues such as animal rights and children’s TV• Discussions about good and not so good things going on in

the classroom• Activities to sort out a problem such as bullying games to develop trust and help children to work together games to improve children’s listening skills , drama , sharing ideas, celebrating good things that have happened , opportunities for children to share thoughts and feelings in a carefully managed way• Trying different ways to relax.

What skills does it teach children?

• Listening

• Talking- extending their vocabulary especially children with EAL.

• Respect

• Self confidence-Putting your opinion forward

• Problem solving skills

Circle time allows children to say what they really think

• Often, in a class lesson, children say what they think the teacher is hoping they will say, rather than what they really think. In other words, they’re used to trying to get it ‘right’

• Circle time is different – it’s what the child really thinks that is most important. This makes the children value circle time, which also helps to make it work. Circle time builds a shared sense of value for everyone in the group and a sensitivity towards other people that is not always easy to find time for in a busy school day.

Now its your turn!

• Warm up activity with string

• Pass teddy around• I like to……• Because…..