5.15 The Circle Family of Techniques

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Circles fit well with cooperation. Circles imply connection, as all the points in a circle join together. Circles also imply equal access, as no one is in front of anyone else or behind anyone else. A circle concept that fits well with the CL principle of cooperation as a value is the concept of Circle of Compassion, which means that we feel most compassion for those close to us – family and friends – but think less about those outside our circle. With cooperation as a value, we hope to expand people’s Circle of Compassion to care for people and other species anywhere in the world.

What do students do in the Circle Family of CL techniques? Many possibilities exist. Let us start with Circle of Speakers. In the example below, students are in groups of three, but groups of two or four are also possible.

Step 1: Student A speaks, Student B speaks, and then Student C speaks. Everyone has a chance to speak, and a Timekeeper can encourage everyone to speak for approximately the same amount of time. Also, students can take time before speaking to think or write. Additionally, teachers can lead a brainstorming session or invite students to research the discussion topic before Circle of Speakers begins.

Step 2: Students can go around the circle multiple times each taking a turn to speak, or group members can speak in random order. Perhaps, one member can play the role of Encourager who participates in the discussion while encouraging everyone to take turns.

Step 3: Students in different groups are chosen randomly to report on some of the discussions in their group. The Reporter student focuses on what their partners said, not their own ideas.

Variations

Other Circle Family possibilities include Circle of Writers, Circle of Interviewers, and Circle of Drawers.

  • Circle of Writers has two possible formats. In Circle of Writers - One at a Time, the group has only one piece of paper or one device (e.g., a tablet), and everyone takes a turn to write while the others wait. For example, Circles of Writers - One at a Time might be the right choice for tasks such as remembering country locations on a map of Africa, or the parts of the brain and their corresponding functions, because each student’s writing turn will probably not last long.
  • When each person needs more writing time, Circle of Writers - All at Once might be a better option. With this member of the Circle Family of CL techniques, each groupmate has one piece of paper or device, and everyone writes at the same time. After a specified amount of writing time, students rotate the paper/device and continue writing on the paper/device they just received. For example, they could continue a story, a reflection, or a brainstorming session. The rotation continues until the paper/device finds its way back to the person who started the writing on that paper/device. That person silently reads what the others have written; then, they compose an ending or summary, which can be reported to the group.
  • In Circle of Interviewers, groups of four form themselves into twosomes. The two members of each subgroup interview each other on a topic the class is studying. Then, they take turns reporting to the other pair about what they learned from their interviews. Of course, students report not about themselves but about their partners. The other pair asks questions.
  • Circle of Drawers. Drawing can be a valuable tool for comprehending, communicating, and remembering. For example, mind maps can involve not just writing words but also using drawings. Groups can create mind maps in the style of Circle of Writers - One at a Time or Circle of Writers - All at Once. One way to encourage the CL principle of equal opportunity to participate when mind mapping is for everyone to use a different color for their contributions to their group’s mind map, making the resulting map more colorful.

 

Reflective Break

What might be a good topic for students to use with Circle of Writers – All at Once? Do you have any additions to the Circle Family of CL techniques?

 

Sample Response

Each group member can start with a different problem/task. The first person writes a first step toward solving the problem (such as a mathematics problem) or doing the task (such as helping a new classmate). They then pass the paper/device to the next person who continues the process till the paper/device returns to the first person.

Last modified: Thursday, 20 March 2025, 1:54 AM