Task #3

Task #3
CIRCLE TIME :D

What are the benefits of having circle time with English language learners?

I have done the circle time since I started to teach, but I got to confess that I am learning now the big impact this may do in our student´s life and in our class.
I do the circle time with my 2 years old and above.

**The circle time gives kids confidence!!!!!! For me confidence is one of the best feeling of the world. We don´t like to feel uncomfortable, right? Now imagine kids!!!! When we feel confidence, we feel safe, comfortable, happy, able to fly , our mind is ready to start a new task, a new stage.

* Students feel loved. Students give love.
Students learn to: ask people how are you?, to care about other people, to worry about people and to try to help when people are sad.
Just imgine if all the world could learn and apply that?

**English!!
We get to teach !!! we can teach feelings, the weather, the date, wh questions, phrases (I love you, feel better etc)

I LOVE CIRCLE TIME! AND..... I do square time, heart time, on chairs, on the floor, outside, inside I make this first time of the class different.
We all wake up with different moods everyday, so why not changing our enviroment too?

*********What challenges may arise when having circle time?
Many many... but....
**For me, language!!!!!

I teach english once a week, I am starting, it is the first language experience for them so the learning stages are a little slow, and when there is something important that matters, I have to continue in my mother tongue in order to give a clear messaje, and support to my little students.

situations! Something we find out really really difficult situations that are happening at home, and somethimes we can not leave the situation in the circle time.

Comments

  1. Juan UribeApril 9, 2016 at 5:05 AM

    Raquel, 
    Your enthusiasm is contagious! I can feel your energy here in my body. Feeling loved and feeling able are the pillars of self-esteem and circle time can help us create this nurturing environment. 

    I am curious about square and heart times. Could you share how you have these with us? 

    Letting your students use Spanish will allow you to have a communication channel and to connect with them. Their discourse will bring you the language that is relevant to them. Gradually use their language in English to promote a safe and comfortable transition from Spanish to English. Gestures help a lot here. 

    We are transforming the world by the way we interact with our young learners. We plant seeds everyday!

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  2. Raquel CastroApril 9, 2016 at 4:49 PM

    Thank you so much Juan. The square time and heart time its just a different name for the circle time, but I do change the shape while sitting down. Sometimes we make it in or out of the classroom, we make a square, heart or other shapes, it is just to change the environment of the morning.

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