Circle Time is an activity designed to build positive self esteem, in a safe and non threatening environment. Circle Time is conducted once a week and, is carefully planned to include a warm up activity, deal with the main issue and end on a positive note with a winding up activity.

This is a special time for, bonding between teacher and child as well as child and child. The teacher keeps a low profile being a part of the circle, where each individual is made to feel special and express his views. Speaking and listening skills are developed and children learn to be responsible for their actions and words. Conflicts are resolved through sharing in a compassionate environment, where confidentiality is maintained, thereby boosting self confidence. Children are encouraged to reflect, introspect and draw conclusions.

Problems of a more personal nature are resolved through Bubble Time. Here the child requests the teacher for private time when individual needs may be addressed privately.

Quality Circle Time is a model developed by Jenny Mosley and is a whole school approach to develop a caring and respectful ethos, to promote social and emotional development of all children. This is being successfully practiced at The Heritage School since 2002.

Circle Time in Middle School 

Middle school is a whirlwind of social changes, peer pressure and the growth of independence.  Middle school students love to be challenged, but don’t want to admit it. They are no longer those youngsters in elementary school, but aren’t ready to take in senior school.  Teachers need to find ways to work their magic and get their students become engaged in the learning process. Having looked for various alternatives, the concept of Circle time seemed the most promising.

Circle Time model has been implemented successfully in our school settings that provides a structured framework for social and emotional learning and promotes a positive class ethos.  The strength of circle time is that they address values, attitudes and skills within safe and supportive boundaries. 

We cannot ‘teach’ children moral values, they have to experience them.  All the games and exercises that are practiced during Circle time are designed to build up a sense of class community.  It has a powerful potential to reduce bullying, increase resilience, explore values and improve communication skills.  It deals with serious and important issues such as understanding feelings and reducing prejudice in a way which is highly motivating for students. 

Circle time is held once a week where children are encouraged to participate voluntarily. This ‘hands-on’ participation in democratic processes in the microcosm of the classroom or school helps to develop individual and corporate responsibility and better citizens of the wider community.  They are prepared for positions in the school such as ‘class representative’, ‘prefects’ or ‘member of student council’. 

In nutshell, Circle time-

•          develop psychologically, emotionally, creatively, intellectually and spiritually

•          initiate, develop and sustain mutually satisfying personal relationships

•          use and enjoy solitude

•          become aware of others and empathise with them

•          develop a sense of right and wrong

•          face problems and setbacks and learn from them in appropriate ways.