{ Circle time }

So I have mentioned before that I am a (recently converted) avocate for circle time in primary education. It makes such a difference to children's attitudes and behaviour. I have been trying as much as possible to link Religious Education (R.E) with our Personal, Health, Social Education (PHSE or circle time) because I believe that the key issues taught in R.E coinside with what we learn in circle time. 

This week in R.E we looked at welcoming people using different languages. The kiddos really loved this and enjoyed going around the circle saying hello in different languages. We have been working on this during registration time as well, I will say "Jambo Amelia" and she will try and respond using the same language. 

Excuse the horrible photo..again I am still on my ipad

We recreated this class promise but ours didn't turn out as good or as pretty. 

That stick on the bottom of the book rack is our 'talking stick'. Isn't is pretty? The kids love holding it during circle time when it is their time to talk and turning it over so the sparkly stars and sand fall down. 

  And we introduced our class post box for any wee notes that the kiddos want to write. They can write a note if they are feeling sad, angry etc but they can also write one to say they are feeling happy. I have already had one from a child that was about another child in my class telling me that he didn't mean to hurt others,it read something along the lines of "He doesn't mean to do it Miss, but other people annoy him!" :P 

We made these calm down sandwiches . We went through ways to chill out when we see red and have a cartoon moment of steam coming out the ears! They really responded to this and enjoyed cutting out their own sandwiches. 

  

What do you do in class to teach attitdues and behaviour?

{ No Worries }

What do you think of my make shift post box? Thought it would do until I can afford/have time to buy/make a proper red English post box. I am going to introduce it in a few weeks. In the U.K curriculum we have to teach personal, health, social and emotional studies (PHSE) which can actually be difficult. A lot of adults assume that children are born knowing and understanding things such as emotions but actually they need to be taught. 

In my class we have a morning meeting every day as a way to check in, this is a great entry into PHSE as it gives you 15-20 mins a day to assess and talk about anything that is on the children's minds. We also have a separate lesson exclusively for PHSE or circle time. The children come to the carpet and sit in their circle spots, we try and not talk or interrupt unless we are holding circle time ted (a gorgeous teddy bear), this has always been hard to get going but once we learn about respect and good listening it gets easier. Promise. Then we discuss our topic which could be anything from emotions to staying safe, we sometimes role play ways to deal with situations, and then we complete a short activity. 

SIDE NOTE: I used to hate teaching these lessons because I never had them as a child and my cohort in school turned out fine, they can be overly sentimental but I will tell you what turned me around. A few years back, in my first year actually, I taught a child who used to attack me (biting, scratching, hair pulling, spitting, chair or table throwing etc) as well as other children, this child was referred to a child psychologist. What was uncovered was that this child has never been taught empathy. NEVER BEEN TAUGHT EMPATHY! Then next part was even more complicated, If he hurt himself or was upset he would seek condolence, if however he did not feel that this was adequate enough then minutes, hours or even days later he would hurt someone else to watch them being comforted in a hope this would make him feel better.

That's when circle times became much more frequent and relevant in my classes.