Engaging Circle Times

Circle time is one of my favorite times of the school day.  I honestly look forward to circle.  Each week I look for new songs and activities to engage my students. Hopefully, my students enjoy as much as I do.  Even when I play songs from a set playlist, I sing along- enthusiastically.  I can’t carry a tune- but my kiddos don’t care because singing is all about having fun. 

5 Activities to Ensure an Exciting Circle Time

These activities should work for any type of learner during a circle time.  My students have visual impairments with additional multiple disabilities.  I have followed this format when I work with students who are deafblind, who have a visual impairment, severe and profound disabilities, and for students with mild or no disabilities.  Circle time can be fun and engaging for everyone. 

Create a welcoming environment

1.      Sing a welcome song to the group.  Invite them to do an activity with you while you sing. For example, they may each choose an instrument to play while you sing to them.  You can then have them put the instrument away when they are done.  This will encourage students to make choices, develop their vision skills, explore an item tactually, use at least two senses, and/or work on fine motor skills. Students have fun playing instruments while they listen to a song.  Encourage them to vocalize or sing along.

After you sing hello to a student, wait for them to respond.  They may say hello verbally, through an augmentative communication device, sign language, a modified sign, facial expression or vocalization.  Model your request when necessary.  When students know they are expected to respond, they are more likely to respond to you.  If you just say “Hi Abby”, and quickly move on to the next student, they may quickly disengage.

Greet your students

2.     Sing a greeting song to each child individually.  Sing their name.  They love it.  Students get excited when they know their turn is coming.  (This is a great way to teach anticipation).  Name songs can be very motivating for a student to engage and respond with you. 

Before I sing a name song, I give my student two choices.  They may choose between small movement activities.  Movement ideas are clapping, stomping, shaking a pom pom, turning their head, patting their lap, etc.  Pre-select your two choices to meet the needs of your students.  Some students may be ready to stand or sit at the front of circle with you while you sing to them. 

Here are some fun name songs: “Henry’s here today, Henry’s here today. Henry’s here let’s give a cheer, Henry’s here today.”  This song is from the CD Jeanne and Jocelyn Circle Time Success.  This song moves fast, so I like to sing it to each of my students separate from the CD.  Another song I like to sing is “Sam came to school, Sam came to school, Hey, hi, hello, Sam came to school.

Act it out

3.     Do an activity.  It might be reading a story, playing a parachute game, or do a movement activity.  Choose something that requires active participation.  Sitting and watching is not near as fun as sitting and doing. Storytime during circle is effective because students are prepared to participate. Students quickly learn there is an I Do, You Do, We Do pattern during circle time. The teacher introduces the activity (singing, reading, moving), students respond to your topic, and together you engage in learning

Parachute games are fun during circle because everyone is in a group, working together. They are able to wiggle, to move, to sing and dance. They anticipate their turn by waiting for their name, they learn to follow your direction (shake the parachute) and then as a group everyone works together.

Finish what you started

4.     End circle with another song.  Sometimes students need you to sing the same “finished” song and sometimes students can handle you changing the song each week. See Ya Later Alligator is a good “circle time is over” song.  This song is also from the CD Circle Time Success. By singing a closing song, students again anticipate what is next. They learn the closing song finishes circle time. They can prepare for this activity to end and move on to the next one.

Transition to the next activity

5.     After you have closed circle, dismiss the students.  To ease the transition from circle to the next activity, do this chant for each student.  Dismissing the students one by one will help you control the group as they transition.  For example, if everyone is going to the table, you will send each child to the table.  If they are going to individual centers, tell them in the chant where they are going. This chant is silly, and it amuses most of my students.  When I can get them to laugh, I know circle is fun.

Acka packa soda cracker

Acka packa too

Acka pack soda cracker

Out goes Sarah!  Then tell Sarah where she is going.

Conclusion

Students become active participants in circle time when their engagement is encouraged and facilitated.  Provide multi-sensory activities for them to move, sing, touch, explore, listen, and be expressive. Create a consistent routine: Welcoming song, name song, activity, closing song, dismassal. Routines are comforting for students as they learn what to expect. Routines make planning your circle time easier as you know the elements to plan.