Community
circles are a simple instructional routine that can transform your classroom.
Used with intention, circles shape a listening culture where students practice
giving attention to each other and "saying just enough" -- two
essential skills for healthy relationships. For educators, this ritual keeps
our finger on the pulse of student needs while helping us to orchestrate a
safe, caring group dynamic.
Through her
opening circle, Street sent a few powerful messages to her second grade
students:
·
This classroom
is like a family.
·
In this
classroom, we greet one another to start our day.
·
In this
classroom, we get to know each other through laughter and sharing.
·
In this
classroom, we practice listening -- from the heart, no less!
As a listening
educator, here are four ways that you can
leverage circles.
1. Set the Tone
When opening a
circle in your classroom, you hold a lot of power to set a safe, open tone for
sharing. Choose a sacred talking piece that allows you to share a part of your
story and to model risk-taking for students. A talking piece can be anything
that has meaning for you: a picture, a rock, a stuffed animal, a shell. What
matters is that you explain and personalize the object's meaning for your
students and connect it to the guideline of listening from the heart to one speaker
at a time. Your talking piece will create agravitas that travels around the circle as each student
holds it.
2. Plan Your Prompts
The best circle
prompts evolve from low-stakes to higher-stakes, gradually inviting students to
bring their experiences and identities into the classroom. Many teachers plan
for three discussion rounds that start with fun or silly prompts and end with
opportunities for deeper sharing. As the prompt designer, you should think
about matching questions to your lesson goals and assessment of the class
culture. Consider:
·
How close is
this group?
·
What do and
don't they know about each other?
·
What key idea
from a text can you reinforce?
The prompts
that you select should build toward those more personal moments of sharing that
unify a classroom culture. Here are some sample circle prompts.
Round 1: Getting To Know Each Other
·
Today I'm
feeling _____ (one word).
·
If you could be
a superhero, what super powers would you choose, and why?
Round 2: Exploring Values and Identity
·
What touches your heart?
·
How would your
best friend describe you?
·
What does
respect look like to you?
Round 3: Storytelling
·
A time when you
had a conflict with a parent or caregiver
·
An experience
of feeling that you did not fit in
·
A time when you
learned something that really mattered to you
3. Mirror and Affirm
You can
encourage sharing and listening during circles by validating your students'
hard work. A master of affirmation and precise praise, Street said mid-circle,
"People are doing a great job of listening from the heart. I noticed
everyone's head is moving to listen to each person." To close the circle,
she issued another affirmation: "Remember we celebrate ourselves, so if
you felt you were doing a great job of listening from the heart, you can
celebrate yourself with a pat." Students gently patted their hearts.
4. Log Your Listening
Finally,
listening educators are keenly attuned to their students' comments and
non-verbal signals during circles. You are looking and listening for insight
into students who may be struggling and with whom you need to have a follow-up
conversation. Right after a circle, it can be helpful to jot down observation
notes in a listening log to capture raw data before it sifts through your
brain. Street’s log could read:
·
Today's date:
·
Students
responded well to the one-word feeling prompt.
·
Follow-up
needed with J. who shared that he is feeling sad.
·
Learning
objective met: students practiced listening from the heart.
How have you
used circles to promote a listening culture? What other routines support
listening in your classroom? Which of these tips speak to you, and why?
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