Circle time

=Circle time= Parents may have heard their children talking about “Circle time” taking place once a week in their schools, and wonder what it is

Circle time - what it isn't

 * It isn’t therapy, it isn’t a forum for behaviour intervention, and it certainly isn’t the place for judgement or coercion!

Circle time - what it is

 * It is a space within the school curriculum into which each person comes with unconditional acceptance which provides an opportunity to learn and explore through the discussion of experiences and individuality
 * In layman’s terms it is a time where people can talk, safely without fear of embarrassment or ridicule. It’s a space in which children can learn the skills they need to thrive in life, such as effective communication, emotional literacy, anger management, peer mediation and conflict resolution. These may, in turn, have a positive impact on behaviour in those pupils, but this is a side-effect rather than a goal of circle time. Even the most beautifully behaved classes would still benefit from circle time.

Spin-offs from circle time
Teachers using circle time in various countries have reported observing these benefits:
 * Increased levels of self-motivation among pupils
 * Enhanced communication between pupils and between pupils and staff
 * Greater social and community awareness among pupils
 * Enhanced self-esteem and self-respect among pupils
 * Greater skills of assertion among pupils
 * Increased ability to empathise with others
 * Heightened abilities to behave altruistically
 * Strengthened resilience in students
 * Circle time is to school what the meal table is to the home, a place where people talk to each other openly, pleasantly and safely.
 * Where social skills are practiced and developed. Where we learn to be human.

Circle Time - games

 * Fruit salad, soup, farmyard, zoo - choosing 3 or 4 components from one of the themes, name off children around the circle. Apple, orange, cherry - when 'Cherry" is called out the students who are Cherries stand up and change seats. When "Fruit Salad" is called out everyone stands up and changes seats.
 * Mixes up the seating arrangements