RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS & PARENTS:

For those teachers seeking to use any picture story book as a resource for class Circle Time discussion, the following pages contain some suggested ideas. 

The questions and statements are by no means exhaustive — in fact you are encouraged to make up your own questions and statements suited to the age and needs of your students.

Click the associated link to find questions specifically for the relevant story book.

Jessica’s Special Buttons

Jackson Uncovers Hidden Treasure

Olivia's Jar of Pickled Inspiration

Parents may wish to use any of the open-ended type questions to review the book with their child.

There is also a page with suggested extended curricular activities for Maths, English, Science and Social Studies. Click the associated link to find extended curricular activities.

Circle Time Rules:

based on principles of respect, safety & inclusion:

§ EVERYONE GETS A TURN —

when it is someone’s turn to speak, everyone else listens *

§ INDIVIDUALS MAY PASS IF THEY WISH —

there is no pressure to say anything *

§ THERE ARE NO PUT-DOWNS AT ANY TIME

 i.e. no naming, no blaming and no shaming

* 'Talking piece'— a soft object that is passed around the circle for children to hold whilst they have their turn to speak

For more information on Circle Time use your favourite search engine

Remind the children that what is shared in the circle… stays in the circle ... and is not to be taken outside.

To clarify: of course children are free (indeed encouraged) to talk about the activities outside of the circle; however, what any individual may share of a personal view or experience, is not to be shared with anyone in another class, or the school-yard or at home.

SUGGESTED ORDER OF ACTIVITIES:

NOTE: 

It is normal practice in Circle Time sessions to begin with a greeting or warm-up activity. However, I have found that this is not necessary when using a picture story book as the central focus.

However, if you are looking for ideas see the post entitled WARM-UP / GREETINGS or clink on the label-tag.

Silent Statements: require an empty seat in the circle for when only one child wants to change seats. Seat changing is ideally done without talking. Remind the children that they are actually telling others something about themselves without using words.

 Open-ended Statements:  decide whether you want everyone to have a different question to answer or everyone to have the same question. Either way, they are to be answered without any explanation, questions, comments or the need to justify. (*Make use of 'Talking piece')

 Open-ended Justifiable Statements: similarly, everyone can have a different question to answer or everyone can have the same question. Either way, they are to be answered in a way that the students can explain the reasons why.

Again this is not the time for anyone else to make comment or ask questions. The students need to feel they are safe to give their answer. Here especially—as in every stage of Circle Time—it is extremely important for the teacher / facilitator or other adults (e.g. teacher aids) to make observations about any students who may need to be followed up individually. *

Pair-Share Statements: an opportunity for everyone to share briefly yet openly with the person next to them. Any of the previous questions also can be used for Pair-Share. Allow 1-2 minutes speak-time each.

Pair-share statements can also be brought back into the circle and either shared as a random sample or where each partner shares what their partner had spoken of – which of course requires each other's permission to do so.

Open-Group Discussion Questions: particularly suited to older students. This is also an opportunity for the teacher / facilitator to come back to any observations during the previous Circle Time activities and open them up for discussion.

Closure: just as with any Circle Time session it is important to facilitate a sense of closure with a short, fun, light hearted activity. Particularly after a serious discussion / sharing time, it is important for the class to move into a different head space before going out to the playground, onto the next class task or off to home. 

Clink on the link for some suggested CLOSURE ideas or research your own.