Transcript

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PUPIL 1

Another important part of school life is circle time. Everyone in our school does it from the very youngest kids right up to the teachers. And in class, we do it a lot.

PUPIL 2

We use circle time to discuss anything and to solve problems together. Our teachers are specially trained to make sure everyone is involved and has a chance to have their say. And we all come away from the circle time feeling good and ready to get back to our learning.

PUPIL 3

Do you want to know how it works? Here are five steps to successful circle times at Watercliffe Meadow. One, we start with a game to get everyone thinking together. Two, we open up the issue so everyone understands what the circle is all about. Three, we talk in round so everyone can choose to say what they think.

We use a talking object for this, and everyone listens to the person who’s holding the object. Four, we have another round or compliments, positive ideas, or solutions. Five, and finally, we finish with a calm game or exercise to bring our circle time to an end and get ready for learning.

TEACHER

It’s a time for the children all to get together as a class and a community, and solve problems, and give each other advice. And we do it basically because the children are so much better at solving their own problems and working together than us as adults.

It develops a whole range of skills in the children, listening skills, concentrating skills, thinking skills, and speaking skills, which then are all transferable to all different areas of the curriculum. And so assists with their learning through the circle time, you can build the self esteem and really get them ready for their learning.

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