A Preschool Circle Time Routine that Really Works (Part 1)

Рет қаралды 206,575

Күн бұрын

👉 Check out more preschool circle time tips here: www.pre-kpages.com/circle_time/
✨ Learn about my membership program here: bit.ly/teachingtrailblazers
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In this week's episode of Elevating Early Childhood, I discuss something suuuper important: Circle time!
As you know, circle time is pretty crucial in pre-k, and having a successful and effective one can be difficult.
Why? Simply because most children have short attention spans, which means keeping them focused on circle time can be quite the complex task.
But, I'm here to help!
Which is why, first things first, I want you to know that, when it comes to circle time, working smarter, not harder, is the solution.
What does that entail, exactly?
Tune in right now to find out!
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Key Takeaways:
- Why is it difficult to have a successful circle time? (00:00)
- Ingredient #1: Understanding young children's attention spans (01:58)
- Ingredient #2: Balancing active and passive during circle time (03:19)
- Ingredient #3: Have all your materials prepared in advance (05:31)
- What to do when your students don't listen during circle time (07:03)
- How to fit everything during circle time (08:32)
- What to do if your students don't participate (12:42)
- Component #1: The picture schedule (16:25)
- Component #2: Taking attendance (17:11)
- Component #3: Story of the day (19:07)
- Component #4: A participatory song (20:19)
- Component #5: Review your schedule (20:34)
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Additional Resources:
💠 Visit our website to find tons of pre-K teaching resources here:
www.pre-kpages.com/
💠 Get my book “Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers” here:
www.pre-kpages.com/teach-smar...
💠 Learn more about my membership program “Teaching Trailblazers” here:
bit.ly/teachingtrailblazers
💠 Check out preschool morning meeting ideas here: www.pre-kpages.com/preschool-...
💠 Check out more preschool circle time tips here: www.pre-kpages.com/circle_time/
💠 More preschool circle time song ideas here: www.pre-kpages.com/preschool-...
💠 Get your rectangular Editable Picture Schedule Cards here: www.pre-kpages.com/products/e...
💠 Get square Editable Picture Schedule Cards here: www.pre-kpages.com/products/e...
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Elevating Early Childhood is an early education podcast dedicated to helping Pre-K, Preschool, and Kindergarten teachers teach better, save time, and live more.
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Onward & Upward! 🙌
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#vanessalevin #prekpages #circletime

Пікірлер: 93

@PreKPagesvideos 10 ай бұрын

Circle Time Games pre-kpag.es/CIRCLEGAMES Circle Time Starter Kit pre-kpag.es/CIRCLETIME

@heartofworshipfamily4967 2 жыл бұрын

Great tips for circle time! Absolutely, some children who are second language learners really need time to adjust in the classroom.

@MsErika1226 Жыл бұрын

My goodness! Your channel is amazing! Thank you for sharing all of this with us!!!!

@KathyHutto 2 жыл бұрын

Great advice! I love the blueberry pie analogy! I definitely agree with the active/passive approach.

@dawnthompson 2 жыл бұрын

Can you do a tour of your classroom one day... please!!!!

@vanessalevin7467 2 жыл бұрын

Great idea! You can see pictures of each center here: www.pre-kpages.com/category/learning-centers/ and I also have a classroom tour video here on my channel from a few years ago.

@christyeichhorn5333 Жыл бұрын

Yes, please!!!

@ainhoabcebrero6375 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your wonderfully insightful guidance to honor children where they are and to keep them engaged

@positiveandhealthy2728 2 жыл бұрын

This was so powerful and so true. Thank you!

@lilianadiaz3174 Жыл бұрын

i'm going back to teaching prek. I am so thankful I found this :) my circle times lasted 30 minutes! no wonder!

@leeanntreacy7349 2 жыл бұрын

This content is just what I need as a new teacher. Thank u so much ❤

@ponniicharlene Жыл бұрын

Wow loved this!!!

@patriciajohnson2971 2 жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed the class thank u for you input

@lovablelilly9874 Жыл бұрын

Really like this advice ill try it this year.

@laurastjulien7393 Жыл бұрын

This was so helpful

@Sunshine-gv6nd Жыл бұрын

Thanks Vanessa. Nice tips. Key tip for me is balancing passive and active attention grabbers to keep them engaged. Nice work. Very helpful. 😊

@olubunmiadewakun5028 9 ай бұрын

Beautiful Tips. I will surely look for how to make it relatable here in our part of the world.

@amyc4083 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing this!!! I’m a new assistant teacher and there’s some things about our circle time that don’t seem to work very well. I would LOVE to get rid of calendar time!

@allstaracademychildcareand4845 2 жыл бұрын

Great advice

@helenmuriuki954 Жыл бұрын

great tips thank you

@mariliaescramozino2900 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome hacks. Thanks!

@monicajordan6900 Жыл бұрын

Thank you!!!

@deliaclaudio6871 Жыл бұрын

Great info on your site smarter then harder was great idea.

@707jmc Жыл бұрын

OMG,I do trainings for educators and sometimes I second guess my self. You are right on point! These are the same things I teach and tell educators. I’m going to start sharing this channel.

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!!

@user-ph9sy9om8r 11 ай бұрын

Great advice. Most are visual and tactile

@edithogbogu8306 Жыл бұрын

Very useful information for me

@realize3908 Жыл бұрын

Thanks.

@andersonmendonca4225 Жыл бұрын

Love it!!!! ❤

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

So glad you enjoyed this episode of Elevating Early Childhood.

@smashandcreate 9 ай бұрын

I can not thank you enough. This video is exactly what I needed to recalibrate and go back to the drawing board for my kids. Thank you, thank you!

@PreKPagesvideos 9 ай бұрын

Glad it helped!

@marcelasvirbelovakuziakova7517 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely love it,thank you,I work as assistance teacher in preschool,and they circle time,take to long, definitely going to share your advice 🙂, thank you 👌💯❤️

@ms.viviansnooks4009 Жыл бұрын

😊😊

@joycebruhn3672 Жыл бұрын

I was the lover of circle time. Yes

@gabriellewalker9340 Жыл бұрын

Thank you I'm a preschool teacher and circle time is the worst so thank you I will use your three ingredients for my class

@manarmanar942 Жыл бұрын

I'm a preschool teacher assistant, and when I do circle time with the kids ,it just doesn't work perfectly even though I make it short,but they don't follow along and it makes things harder.

@brainbuilderspreschool5179 2 жыл бұрын

My kids LOOVEEEE CIRCLE TIME !!!! we spend 15mins having fun

@blanchemusoke7538 Жыл бұрын

How do you always have fun

@camilleleshey2994 Жыл бұрын

Your circle time tip is very helpful as far as the weather I don't talk about the weather during circle time we talk about the weather before circle time in the morning and we don't do the weather everyday like for example if it was sunny 2 days in a row and the 3rd day it was sunny then I won't do the weather for that day but say if it rains the next day then I will do the weather for the day

@amyfrancis9423 Жыл бұрын

Hi Vanessa. Thank you for your wonderful videos and tips. I would so appreciate any advice you can give me. It's been two days of school. On Monday (coming up), I will start the first theme (Welcome to Pre-K!). Students arrive between 8:30-9:00. Breakfast is 9:00-9:30. From 9:30-10:30, it's gross motor. My options are to do a half-hour walk, classroom movement and/or a half hour in the playroom. By the time we are through with bathroom & water for the second time, it's morning meeting between 10:35-10:50. The first round of centers is 10:50-11:55. Clean up, lunch & bathroom next. Rest time or napping is from 12:25-1:15. Unless I skip the gross motor hour and/or the allotted center time, I only have 15 minutes (probably 10) to teach procedures and routines. How do I teach basic procedures (lining up, walking in the hall, bathroom, washing hands) model & practice AND teach the procedures of a center? How do you keep their attention to teach these procedures & routines long enough to practice them? Thank you so much for your advice!

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

What your schedule looks like on paper and what really happens in the very beginning of the year are entirely different. Be sure to subscribe to my channel because I mention this issue in an upcoming episode. If you don't "borrow" time from centers in the beginning of the year to establish the routines and procedures, then they won't be as successful at centers the rest of the year.

@amyfrancis9423 Жыл бұрын

@@PreKPagesvideos Thank you for your response Vanessa!

@ajewolemotunrayo3994 Жыл бұрын

Good tips! Kindly add the clips of classroom demonstration to what you meant. Really want to know from Nigeria

@KeswickCamp08 Жыл бұрын

The Whole Book Approch is also good

@sandyblake2787 2 жыл бұрын

I do the weather at devotions each mornings

@ghsofi 5 ай бұрын

Great. Mm❤

@simonegodwin7449 2 жыл бұрын

We talk about the weather at circle time because we are in the UK and we have such changeable weather. We need to sow the seeds that they may have to wear jackets or extra layers or boots when the child may not want to. It really helps. We will need our boots because we will be playing in puddles etc. Then they do it without fuss.

@PreKPagesvideos 2 жыл бұрын

I agree that children should learn how to dress appropriately for the weather, we have weather here in the US too. My point is that devoting 3-5 minutes to "teaching weather" every single day for 190 (or more) days of school is really overkill. If we, as professional educators are creating a solid foundation for future success in life and school, then spending a disproportionate amount of time on this one single thing threatens the stability of the foundation. Especially when that one "thing" isn't a critical component of creating that foundation. What we choose to spend the most time on in the classroom should matter, like music, movement, play, exploration etc.

@simonegodwin7449 2 жыл бұрын

@@PreKPagesvideos oh yeah that would be overkill! We do it once in a while. Usually when seasons change.

@kachna71 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for “the weather” 😅its non-sens to repeat this every day with small once’s

@jengiolando4159 Жыл бұрын

2:01 ingredient 1, ingredient #2: 3:20 and ingredient #3: 5:33, what to do when students don’t listen 7:20 how to fit it all in: 8:36 what to do when children do not participate: 12:46 Component 1: 16:33, Component 2: 17:20, component 3: 19:11 component 4: 20:26 and 5: 20:39

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

Hi Jen, thanks for watching Elevating Early childhood :) Can you help me better understand what your comments on many of my videos mean? I'm not sure if they're suggestions for me, or if you're assigning them to your college/HS students... Thanks!

@jengiolando4159 Жыл бұрын

@@PreKPagesvideos The timestamps are when those segments begin. Because i believe the ones that are on there are midway thru the segment. So i put them, so that people will get the full, or close to full advice.

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

@@jengiolando4159 ok, thanks for the clarification and for your efforts!

@leticiahu5804 Жыл бұрын

How did you make your flags behind? the ones like the cover of books? love it thanks for all the tips

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

I cut triangles out of hardcover book dust jackets. The triangles are clipped to a piece of yarn with clothespins.

@felicianeal2289 2 жыл бұрын

great tips!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should a song/music be played to transition from breakfast to circle time? Our kids are all over the place after that and I feel transition music should be played. I'm an assistant just trying to help.

@vanessalevin7467 2 жыл бұрын

I think it would depend on how your breakfast routine is structured. Do they leave at different times as they finish, or do you go from the cafeteria to the classroom?

@allesiapate1037 Жыл бұрын

Love these tips but I need a video of you physically showing me how to do it

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

Our Trailblazers have access to a circle time training video. You can learn more about our program here: teachingtrailblazers.com/

@essienorfleet8566 2 жыл бұрын

Hello awesome information. I have a question. My circle time is 15 minutes, so when they are listening should I just end circle time?

@homeedconnect 2 жыл бұрын

You are adorable. I'd love to be in your class ❤

@leeanntreacy7349 2 жыл бұрын

Can you share some tips to prepare children for a concert plz?

@PreKPagesvideos 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry, I don't really have any.

@jamiemartinez0331 Жыл бұрын

Will you give me some advice and ideas for my teacher observation by early learning coalition? VPK .

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

You can leave me a voicemail here if you'd like me to answer your question on the podcast. www.pre-kpages.com/listen/

@jasminjj3046 10 ай бұрын

My sister is 5 that. Means 10 minutes 😂 l never new this 😮 lm tring to teach her to much im a 9 year old teacher of 1 kid. To long not active 😢

@jengiolando4159 Жыл бұрын

Ingedients start at 1:55

@kacibeaverwestbrook1744 2 жыл бұрын

I'm starting circle ⭕ time at the daycare I'm working at. It's the first time for these underprivileged children. Do you recommend a starter circle time activity??

@vanessalevin7467 2 жыл бұрын

Anything to do with their names is the way to go! Chant Hickey Pickety Bumblebee: pat your knees while you chant. Hicktety pickety bumblebee Who can say their name for me? Emerson! (loudly) emerson (whispered softly) Emerson (mouth the name vocalizing) repeat for each child.

@kacibeaverwestbrook1744 2 жыл бұрын

Cute!!Ok thank you so much . . I will definitely try this Monday!!!!

@essienorfleet8566 2 жыл бұрын

I meant to say not listening, do I end circle time and let them begin their Center time.

@PreKPagesvideos 2 жыл бұрын

Try to determine why they aren't listening. Ask yourself how long have we been in circle time? Is the length of circle time age-appropriate for my students? Is the book I chose age-appropriate? Am I reading with great expression? Am I balancing active and passive during my circle time? etc. If you feel you've got everything in place and your circle times aren't too long, then absolutely let them go and try to make improvements or tweaks for tomorrow.

@allesiapate1037 2 жыл бұрын

So what if you announce that your in the science center and all the children want to come at the same time and they don't want to play with any other thing what do you say but all your center have interesting things in them

@vanessalevin7467 2 жыл бұрын

That's where your procedures come into play. What procedures do you have in place for when this happens in your classroom? Remind them of this procedure after you introduce the science activity. For example, "Remember, there are only X (say number) of children that can fit in the science center at one time. So, if you go there and it's full, then... (say procedure)" One way you can approach super high interest things in one center is to put out a clipboard with a blank sheet of paper and a pencil in the center. If students want to go there, but it's full, then they can put their name on the "waiting list." If your kids are too little to write their names, invite them to put their name card with their picture in a designated area of the center. I've used a cheap cookie sheet from the dollar store and name cards with magnets before.

@Dorothyduffy126 11 ай бұрын

Hi Vanessa! I'm organizing a sharing session at my club and would love to have you as a guest speaker(online). Your experience in teaching would be invaluable to our members. Let me know if you're available and interested!

@PreKPagesvideos 11 ай бұрын

I would need more info about the event, please reach out to customercare@pre-kpages.com

@salimas7979 Жыл бұрын

You said you’d share “good morning” songs; I can’t find them.

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

Below the video there's a little section that you have to click to expand. When you expand that section you will find all the links I mention in the video. Here is the list of songs I was referring to: www.pre-kpages.com/preschool-songs-circle-time/

@salimas7979 Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Found them.

@southerncounselor485 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the information, but some of the theory presented in this video does not relate to Special Needs Class.

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

That's because I'm not a special education teacher and don't claim to be one.

@seniorskipday16 Жыл бұрын

Has this been suggested to anyone else because they listen to Kelsey Kreppel’s podcast? Lol😅

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

I don't know who that is...

@gladysperez8156 2 жыл бұрын

I just like your ideas, but I work in a place where the children are quite active and the administration valued the skills that the children can get within 20 minutes. Note that my preschoolers are 3-3:7 year olds.

@PreKPagesvideos 2 жыл бұрын

Aren't children everywhere active? ;)

@heidinortje5182 Жыл бұрын

The problem in my school is that we have to be on Garden duty in the mornings and go to the class with the kids, so there is no time to prepare for my circle time in the morning.

@PreKPagesvideos Жыл бұрын

Then I suggest preparing the night before.