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Circle Time is happening all over Australia. The Calwell Cluster in the ACT have developed their own CIrcle TIme resource booklet for mixers and energisers. You can download this wonderful resource here.
WHAT IS CIRCLE TIME?
Circle Time is a democratic and creative approach used to consider a wide range of issues affecting the whole school community. The strength of circles is that they address values, attitudes and skills within a structured, safe and supportive framework. Evaluation of circle time indicates that it can have a significant impact on:
- Promoting positive behaviour
- Preventing and addressing bullying
- Clarifying rules and expectations
- Defining values
- Developing emotional and social understanding and skills
- Developing a supportive class /school ethos
- Sharing and taking responsibility
- Fostering belonging
- Supporting inclusion
- Conflict resolution / management
- Developing good communication
- Creating and developing trust
- Celebrations!
THE PROCESSES OF CIRCLE TIME ARE INTENDED TO:
- Promote the value of both individuals and the group
- Not allow individuals to put each other down
- Focus on problem solving issues not blaming individuals
- Focus on the positive rather than the negative
- Emphasise solutions
- Give everyone a turn to contribute
- Emphasise equal value of all contributions
- Promote inclusion
- Not insist on participation but give second chances
- Allow for mistakes
- Give time for reflection
RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT IS CENTRAL: ACTIVITIES PROMOTE
- Sharing of experiences
- Practising communication skills, especially listening
- Promoting understanding of each other
- Empathy building
- Giving a language and a space for feelings
- Collaboration and co-operation
- Breaking down prejudice
- Developing understanding of abstract ideas such as kindness, tolerance, support
- Having fun together
In classrooms it is essential that the teacher is a facilitator and participant in Circle Time, not a controller. This encourages students to develop their own solutions.
Circle Time Solutions are taking off in Australia. Circle time training course participants have often asked for a space to share ideas and experiences after training. This is now available at http://circletime.typepad.com/ideas/
The next circle time training sessions are being held in Sydney on Wednesday October 29th 2008 at the Commission for Children and Young People and in Melbourne on Monday November 17th 2008. See the Events page.
Circle Time for Emotional Literacy has all you need to know to begin Circle Time in your class and has many new ideas for experienced practitioners. You can order this directly from Footprint Books or request an order form giving you a 15% discount.
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