CIRCLE TIME TIPS

“OLD SCHOOL” CIRCLE TIME TIPS

GET UNPLUGGED - Circle time should be a natural time when you look the children in their eyes and give them 100% of your attention. Let this be an AUTHENTIC time when it’s just YOU and the CHILDREN! Be in the moment!

Harvest These Ideas- Each class is different and unique. Get to know your kids and adapt activities to stimulate them and create interest.

Intentional Teaching– What’s the point? Think of your goals and objectives and then make a plan. What age do you teach? What is their skill level?

Balance – Integrate activities where children sit and then let them stand and wiggle. Sometimes they need to be quiet and listen, and sometimes they can be encouraged to talk.

Hands-on– Try to provide multi-sensory experiences to activate different pathways to the brain. Finger plays, movement songs, handshakes, and real objects will engage children more than watching a video.

Vary the stimulus– Yes, you want to have a basic routine to give children security and help them feel comfortable, but you need a little spark each day to keep them focused and curious.

Model, Model, Model! Children learn more from your actions than your words. Model sitting quietly, listening attentively when a child is talking, being enthusiastic with your facial expressions, and making the motions for the songs and finger plays.

Quit while you are ahead! Don’t make circle time too long! Start with 10-15 minutes and then extend it as the year goes along. They will let you know by their body language when they’ve had enough!

Follow a basic routine.   For example:

Good Morning Song
Handshake
Morning Message/Review Schedule
Calendar and Weather
Pledge, Rules & Mantra
Active - Skill Songs
Concept Lesson – Theme

You might also want to highlight a different area of the curriculum each day of the week.

Marvelous Monday– Teach a new nursery rhyme or finger play. Practice it each day at circle time.

Terrific Tuesday– What’s in the news? Introduce social studies concepts of interest to the children. Discuss friendship and showing kindness. Brainstorm what to do about classroom behavior issues.

Wonderful Wednesday– Focus on oral language with show and tell, echo chants, and phonological awareness games.

Thrilling Thursday– There’s always something interesting outside your classroom door that your children will be interested in. Each season brings new experiences and objects to observe.

Fabulous Friday– Just for fun! Play a silly game, have a dress up day (silly socks, shirt of favorite sports team, etc.), be DJ and play favorite songs, etc.

During the month of June I’m going to share some activities that I did in my classroom, as well as ideas teachers have shared with me over the years. Pick, choose, adapt, change, delete – they are free and they are yours to do as you will. My hope is that you’ll be a little more excited to start the new school year and have some fun as you make plans so EVERY DAY WILL BE THE BEST DAY EVER!

Ticket to Circle Time
Run off paper tickets and pass one out to each child. Explain that it’s their special ticket for circle time.



Hint! Cut a slit in the plastic lid of a food container for children to insert their tickets as they join the group.


MORNING MESSAGE

BACK TO SCHOOL - DAILY SCHEDULE

Create a daily schedule that reflects the age of your students and your curriculum goals. 

"Picture" Our Day
Children read "pictures" before they read words so put photos of different activities on large index cards. Attach a piece of magnetic tape on both sides. As you review your schedule each morning you can insert specials and adapt to changes. Turn the cards over as you complete each activity so children will understand the progression of the day.

 

Hang Ups
Draw large T-shirts on poster board. Take photos of students doing daily activities. Write the activity, time, and glue the picture to the T-shirts. Next, hang a clothesline across the top of one of your bulletin boards. Clothespin the T-shirts in order to the line. As you move through the day, turn over each shirt so the students can see their day get shorter and shorter. When you get to the last T-shirt do an “end of the day” dance!!!



Our Special Day
This is a book that will help children feel comfortable as they learn the daily routine in your classroom. Read the book each morning to prepare children and to capture their interest in activities you have planned. You could also send the book home with one child each evening to share with their families.

First, take pictures of the children engaged in your daily activities and routines. Glue pictures to construction paper and write captions similar to the ones suggested. (Adapt to the age level of your students and your curriculum.) Put the pages together and bind to make a book.

Welcome to Marshall School
Put away your backpack and get ready for a great day! 

We start our day with circle time and a song!
We talk, do the calendar, and learn together.

Next, it’s time for language arts.
We read, write, listen, and learn!

Time to go outside for P.E.
We need to exercise our bodies as well as our brains.

Next comes math! We count, add, subtract, measure,
graph, and think!

Time for lunch.
I’m hungry! How about you?

Story time is always special.
Books are friends that we love to visit again and again.

Then it’s time for learning centers.

Let’s recall and review our day.
Don’t forget your backpacks!
Good-bye, friends!
See you tomorrow!


IPhone
You can use a play phone for this activity. Start each day by passing the phone around the class and asking each child to say a sentence about what they want to learn or do that day. “I …..” Only the person holding the phone is allowed to talk!

 

BACK TO SCHOOL - CLASS BOOKS AND RIDDLES

These are some simple books that you can make to create interest in reading and nurture your classroom community.

I Like to Come to School
(Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")
I like to come to school.
I like to come to school.
I like to learn and play each day
I like to come to school.

I like to make new friends…
I like to read and write…
I like to do math…
I like to sing and draw…/

*Ask children other things they like about school and insert their suggestions in the song.
*Write children’s suggestions on sentence strips and use in a pocket chart.

*Make a class book where each child draws a picture about what they like best at school. They can dictate or write a sentence to go with their drawings. Read the book several times to the class and then allow children to “check it out” and take it home.

Hello Book


Glue each child's photo on a sheet of paper and write “Hello, (child’s name).” at the top. Punch holes in the pages and put them together with book rings. (If you bind the book on the bottom it will be easy to turn the pages as you hold it in your lap.)


Use the book in the following ways:
* Circle or Group Time: Start your day by reading the book together and saying hello to each other.
* Questions: Use the book when you want to ask the class questions. Randomly turn to a page and call on that child to answer the question. This will allow “thinking time” and discourage children from shouting out the answer.
* Transitions: Use this book to dismiss children for learning centers, to line up, and other transitions. Flip through the book and hold up different pictures. As the children see their photo, they may be dismissed, line up, and so on.
* Sing and read this book to the tune of “Good Night, Ladies.”
Hello, (child’s name).
Hello, (child’s name).
Hello, (child’s name).
We're glad you're in our room.

Who Do You See?
We all know wonderful Bill Martin’s “Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?” Your children will love saying and “reading” this version with you. Put each child’s photo on a page with this chant at the top:

(Child’s name), (child’s name), who do you see?
On the bottom of the page write:
I see (second child’s) name looking at me.
On the last add the teacher’s photo with this rhyme:
Children, children, who do you see?
I see (teacher’s name) looking at me.
(Teacher’s name), (teacher’s name), who do you see?
I see happy children ready to learn with me!

*Make two copies of this book so one child can take it home each day to share with their families.
*Introduce children to school helpers with a similar book with the principal, secretary, custodian, nurse, PE teacher, music teacher, and other specialists.
*Carolyn Kisloski takes a picture of the children's shoes to make this book..."Whose shoes do you see?"

The Name of My School
Do you get tired of children saying, “Teacher, teacher!” the first few days of school. This song will enable them to learn the name of their teacher, school, principal, as well as their community, city, state, and country. Take photographs of yourself, the principal, the school, your community, and so forth. Glue pictures to construction paper and write a verse similar to those below on each page. Sing the words to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus.”

The name of my school is (school’s name),
school’s name), (school’s name).
The name of my school is (school’s name).
That’s the name of my school.
The name of my teacher is (teacher’s name), (teacher’s name),
(teacher’s name)…

The name of my principal is…
The name of my librarian is…
The name of my P.E. teacher is…

Hint! Make a similar book for social studies concepts.
The name of my city is...
The name of my state is...
The name of my country is...
The name of my continent is...
The name of my planet is...
Hint! You could also include the name of your mayor, governor, President, etc.

Need a smile for the first week of school? Check out this video that my webmaster Alex May created.

https://youtu.be/W6SyHIsRZXY

How do bees get to school?
By school buzz.

How do fish get to school?
By octobus.

What do gorillas learn in school?
Their Ape, B, Cs.


What does a snake study in school?
Hisss - tory

Why did the music teacher need a ladder?
To reach the high notes.

What kind of school do you go to if you’re a surfer?
A boarding school.

#13-BACK TO SCHOOL FOR YOUR BEST YEAR EVER! Daily Schedule

Create a daily schedule that reflects the age of your students and your curriculum goals.

"Picture" Our Day
Children read "pictures" before they read words so put photos of different activities on large index cards. Attach a piece of magnetic tape on both sides. As you review your schedule each morning you can insert specials and adapt to changes. Turn the cards over as you complete each activity so children will understand the progression of the day.

Hang Ups
Draw large T-shirts on poster board. Take photos of students doing daily activities. Write the activity, time, and glue the picture to the T-shirts. Next, hang a clothesline across the top of one of your bulletin boards. Clothespin the T-shirts in order to the line. As you move through the day, turn over each shirt so the students can see their day get shorter and shorter. When you get to the last T-shirt do an “end of the day” dance!!!



Our Special Day
This is a book that will help children feel comfortable as they learn the daily routine in your classroom. Read the book each morning to prepare children and to capture their interest in activities you have planned. You could also send the book home with one child each evening to share with their families.

First, take pictures of the children engaged in your daily activities and routines. Glue pictures to construction paper and write captions similar to the ones suggested. (Adapt to the age level of your students and your curriculum.) Put the pages together and bind to make a book.

Welcome to Marshall School
Put away your backpack and get ready for a great day!

We start our day with circle time and a song!
We talk, do the calendar, and learn together.

Next, it’s time for language arts.
We read, write, listen, and learn!

Time to go outside for P.E.
We need to exercise our bodies as well as our brains.

Next comes math! We count, add, subtract, measure,
graph, and think!

Time for lunch.
I’m hungry! How about you?

Story time is always special.
Books are friends that we love to visit again and again.

Then it’s time for learning centers.

Let’s recall and review our day.
Don’t forget your backpacks!
Good-bye, friends!
See you tomorrow!


IPhone
You can use a play phone for this activity. Start each day by passing the phone around the class and asking each child to say a sentence about what they want to learn or do that day. “I …..” Only the person holding the phone is allowed to talk!

MANAGEMENT POPS AND BEHAVIOR CUE CARDS

MANAGEMENT POPS

What? jumbo craft sticks, two copies of visuals, glue, cup

How? To make the pops double-sided, print two copies of each visual and attach them to craft sticks.

Hint! Add a check mark to the backside so you can reveal it to the students when each task is completed.

When? Each day choose the pops you'll be using and place them in an organized pile. Go through the file and explain the day's schedule and expectations. When starting a new activity, hold up the schedule pop to the screen to visually represent a transition to the next activity.

*Hold up sticks during your teaching to cue students to attend to what you are doing.

Here's your free download:


https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:43ef48cd-949d-45bd-8623-3f760801e7cf

The Texas Autism Circuit (autismcircuit.net) has created FREE tools and techniques for students on the autism spectrum, but I guarantee you that these would be useful in any classroom. They explain how and when to use the tools and give you printable templates and resources.

*Behavior cue cards to reinforce verbal directions or quietly redirect a student. Wouldn't these work online or in person?



First/then cards to use as a visual support for transitions.



Take a break card for when students might need a break or if they seem frustrated.



But wait, there’s more!!!

You’ll find ideas for collecting data,

           

helping children with time management,

                        

and other social skills!

                                       

GO!

Create a daily schedule that reflects the age of your students and your curriculum goals.

"Picture" Our Day
Children read "pictures" before they read words so put photos of different activities on large index cards. Attach a piece of magnetic tape on both sides. As you review your schedule each morning you can insert specials and adapt to changes. Turn the cards over as you complete each activity so children will understand the progression of the day.

          


Hang Ups
Draw large T-shirts on poster board. Take photos of students doing daily activities. Write the activity, time, and glue the picture to the T-shirts. Next, hang a clothesline across the top of one of your bulletin boards. Clothespin the T-shirts in order to the line. As you move through the day, turn over each shirt so the students can see their day get shorter and shorter. When you get to the last T-shirt do an “end of the day” dance!!!

Our Special Day
This is a book that will help children feel comfortable as they learn the daily routine in your classroom. Read the book each morning to prepare children and to capture their interest in activities you have planned. You could also send the book home with one child each evening to share with their families.

First, take pictures of the children engaged in your daily activities and routines. Glue pictures to construction paper and write captions similar to the ones suggested. (Adapt to the age level of your students and your curriculum.) Put the pages together and bind to make a book.

Welcome to Marshall School
Put away your backpack and get ready for a great day! 

                          

We start our day with circle time and a song!
We talk, do the calendar, and learn together.

Next, it’s time for language arts.
We read, write, listen, and learn!

Time to go outside for P.E.
We need to exercise our bodies as well as our brains.

Next comes math! We count, add, subtract, measure,
graph, and think!

                                            

Time for lunch.
I’m hungry! How about you?

Story time is always special.
Books are friends that we love to visit again and again.

Then it’s time for learning centers.

Let’s recall and review our day.
Don’t forget your backpacks!
Good-bye, friends!
See you tomorrow!


IPhone
You can use a play phone for this activity. Start each day by passing the phone around the class and asking each child to say a sentence about what they want to learn or do that day. “I …..” Only the person holding the phone is allowed to talk!