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Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Circle time

by Lily

Dec 4, 2010

Sometimes my circle time was a mess and gave me big headache. I usually sing songs and read books to the children. But when I start to maintain the discipline in the classroom, I know I would lose them soon. I only have 5-6 children around 2 -3 yo!

How long is the circle time in your classroom? What kind of activities do you usually do? Do you plan a theme for every month or you don't do any themes, just choose songs/books for your children? Besides singing songs, reading books, is there anything else you would do during circle time? How do you maintain the discipline in the circle time?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

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Lucy Sing a hello song, do calendar, weather, and maybe a fingerplay. Then model a new carpet activity. When you do calendar and weather, keep it simple, and put their names on craft sticks. Have a jar for their names, a done jar for those who had a turn, and an absent jar.

Hope this helps! On 12/04/10, Lily wrote: > Sometimes my circle tim...See More

Dec 4, 2010

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maureen On 12/04/10, Lily wrote: > Sometimes my circle time was a mess and gave me big > headache. I usually sing songs and read books to the > children. But when I start to maintain the discipline in the > classroom, I know I would lose them soon. I only have 5-6 > children around 2 -3 yo! > > How long is the circle time in your class...See MoreOn 12/04/10, Lily wrote: > Sometimes my circle time was a mess and gave me big > headache. I usually sing songs and read books to the > children. But when I start to maintain the discipline in the > classroom, I know I would lose them soon. I only have 5-6 > children around 2 -3 yo! > > How long is the circle time in your classroom? > What kind of activities do you usually do? > Do you plan a theme for every month or you don't do any > themes, just choose songs/books for your children? Besides > singing songs, reading books, is there anything else you > would do during circle time? How do you maintain the > discipline in the circle time? > > Thanks for sharing your experience.

Lily: I actually don't do circle time everyday. It depends on whether they ask or not. When we do it is all music, fingerplays, action games. I read during class and the children who want to listen come on their own and sit in on the read. I gave up trying to read to a larger group some years back and I have older students. The only exception was when I had the extended day children who were all 5-6 year olds I read chapter books to them as a group. No pictures, no need to have listen to "I can't see" over and over again to those impatient ones waiting for the book pics to circle the group. When we do have circle time, it lasts 10 minutes at the longest. The only reason I even do circle time (Montessori never had this as part of the class, this is a traditional schooling thing, maybe just American?), is that all my students will eventually go into traditional schools and they can be exposed to sitting together as a group. I like the sense of community it can build. Circle time is also a time we can review the day, mention the good things going on, etc.

I have observed in other 3-6 classrooms that the circle time was SO bad, and I do not exaggerate, I told the teacher to just not do it anymore. The children were not enjoying the experience, and in turn the teacher was not. It was really a disaster. So, unless your administrator insists that circle time is required, I would not do it for awhile and gradually re introduce it as they mature and are more ready for a circle time. Some adults are very good and natural at this as some simply are not.

Only you can judge what is going on as to why the children are not being engaged(not enough movement, too long expecting to sit, not a good match of interest for this age, etc) maureen

Dec 4, 2010

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Mary We don't do circle time everyday either. We do gather the group together (as an invitation) for birthdays, walking on the line and the silence game. These activities are culminating activities - not introduced until the children have been given some preliminary lessons to prepare them for the control of movement necessary. In my training, I was tau...See More

Dec 4, 2010

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CS You don't have to do it everyday. It's your choice - it depends on what you want to accomplish.

In my primary classroom of 26 (between ages 3-6), I do circle time every morning for about 20 min (we do the calendar everyday & other days something specific)

Monday - Letter of the week Tues - Sharing Wednesday - Games/songs Thurs...See MoreYou don't have to do it everyday. It's your choice - it depends on what you want to accomplish.

In my primary classroom of 26 (between ages 3-6), I do circle time every morning for about 20 min (we do the calendar everyday & other days something specific)

Monday - Letter of the week Tues - Sharing Wednesday - Games/songs Thurs - Show & Tell Fridays - Bingo

I like structure so my kids knew what to expect & honestly I had minimum disruption during circle. But for your age group, I would really limit circle to 5-10 min. Maybe try a schedule so kids know what is expected each day(?) It may be that they are bored so they don't care to sit still. Use quiet voices, maintain eye contact & try to keep it interesting.

Mondays, you can practice walking the line. Tuesdays - practice carrying trays quietly on circle. Wednesdays - Games/songs (get them moving with some gross- motor skills) Thurs - Stories Fri - maybe let them choose from a list of acceptable choices.

If you give them a small percent of power in this matter, they may be more willing to sit & listen. Just a thought. Don't WAIT to maintain discipline. You can establish simple rules before they sit down (not too much, for your age, limit to 2-3 simple rules they must follow) & perhaps remind them of that each morning. Also, when they do behave, give them LOTS of verbal praise.

Good luck.

On 12/04/10, Lily wrote: > Sometimes my circle time was a mess and gave me big > headache. I usually sing songs and read books to the > children. But when I start to maintain the discipline in the > classroom, I know I would lose them soon. I only have 5-6 > children around 2 -3 yo! > > How long is the circle time in your classroom? > What kind of activities do you usually do? > Do you plan a theme for every month or you don't do any > themes, just choose songs/books for your children? Besides > singing songs, reading books, is there anything else you > would do during circle time? How do you maintain the > discipline in the circle time? > > Thanks for sharing your experience.

Dec 5, 2010

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