Back to School Circle Time Tips
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2020
- Note: This video audience is set for 18+ ONLY and not intended for children, but instead as an instructional resource for early childhood educators.
In this video I share tips on creating successful circle times with toddlers and preschoolers during back to school. The key is having simple books and activities for the first day and even the first week of school. You can get more tips in this video: • My Secret to a Success... And also these posts: teaching2and3yearolds.com/the... and teaching2and3yearolds.com/the....
Music and movement ideas: teaching2and3yearolds.com/mus...
Brown Bear, Brown Bear circle time props: teaching2and3yearolds.com/bro...
You can find an entire collection of FREE circle time props here: teaching2and3yearolds.com/pre...
We also have these circle time prop packets:
Song & Rhymes Props Volume 1: www.teacherspayteachers.com/P...
Song & Rhymes Props Volume 2: www.teacherspayteachers.com/P...
Fall Themed Circle Time Props: www.teacherspayteachers.com/P...
Gingerbread Man Circle Time Props: www.teacherspayteachers.com/P...
Winter Counting Props: www.teacherspayteachers.com/P...
Spring Circle Time Props: www.teacherspayteachers.com/P...
Teachers: teaching2and3yearolds.com/sur...
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I’m so happy you told your viewers that you have circle time several times a day. I have to do that as well. The first few weeks are the hardest I think. For most kids this is their first introduction to school. I always try extra hard to make it a good one. I also don’t assume they know how to use art supplies, or blocks or any of the other items in the centers. Circle time is a good time to teach them for example how to remove a cap off of a marker and put it back on and place it in the basket when they are done so another friend can use it. Tons of teaching is involved that first few weeks. Puppets and props are always my go to. Easy to get the children engaged in the activities. It is a blessing to have the opportunity to do this and to have a job you truly love.
Jean Shimpeno - I’m so glad you mentioned using circle time to show the children how to use materials. I neglected to add that in the video. It is so helpful!
Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds I’ve noticed in the past few years that children are sitting and actually watch tv shows at young ages now. My group of children can sit longer for a circle time now but I still like several short ones throughout the day. I call them to circle time using a special puppet. They can hardly wait to see what he will teach them. I am such a binder person. It’s my addiction for staying organized. I use binders to hold all of my paper table learning activities. I just slip them in a page protector so they can be used with a dry erase marker. Any loose piece paper puzzles or games I place in a see through pencil pouch. So easy to find what I need.
@@jeanshimpeno45 You have such great ideas! I need to start using some of them. Thank you!
@@Teaching2and3YearOlds I am an Assistant Teacher at a Preschool located in Jamaica Queens NY. I watch your videos and am inspired by them. You are an excellent Teacher. I wish that I were your Assistant Teacher. I say no more.
@@MayMay-gd9ge - Thank you! ❤️
Such great suggestions, I'm a 2-3 year old teacher and these tips will definitely help our circle time. Thanks :)
Dannie0307 B - So Happy to hear this! Let me know how things go!
Lovely! Thanks !!
Great advice! I teach online and am currently exploring more ideas for parents. Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome!
Thank you for sharing your tips on creating a successful circle time! I no longer teach 2 and 3 year olds but on of the tips I use that you shared was keeping circle time short and simple.
Roc P Fit - Exactly! And don’t add more until they are ready!
@@Teaching2and3YearOlds j it o
I completely agree with you. Circle time should be simple and short especially at the start of the term and if it's not working practitioner must stop and move to something else. thanks for the video
Lape Igbaroola - Exactly!
Love your work , A kindergarten teacher from Egypt 🇪🇬💙
Heba Aboul Ellaa - Thank you! ❤️
This is amazing advice! I work at a daycare and my classroom is currently infants all the way up to 2 year olds. It is such a huge challenge finding activities for circle time, especially with the age differences! I will definitely be using all of your advice and tips!
So happy to hear this! Make sure to see my more recent videos with some new props you can use! ❤️
Amazing suggestion to make props for circle time and to keep it short. I'll follow this
It makes a huge difference!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Moko Tomoko - You are so welcome!
Thank you these were very useful and gives me hope to fix my circle time routine. I did not have an assistant in my classroom and have 18 kids. :)
You are so welcome! Just keep them short and interactive - you might need to break your circle times so that you have 2 shorter ones.
Thank you for share your ideas and experiences. I'm a toddlers teacher in Canada. 😘
Karol Gallego - You are so welcome!
I just love your videos!
I am so happy they are helpful. Thank you for watching!
Very helpful thank you so much
Glad it was helpful. Thank you for watching!
I'd like to know how to treat and what to expect from 2, 3, 4 and 5 y.o. children respectfully. I work as a preschool teacher, and where I'm from, there's a LOT of content and things children have to learn and be able to perform from the very beginning of the year. But I'd like to know from your experience, what do they really should be able to accomplish according to their ages and what should I expect. Thank you for the amazing video 😊🙏💗
Great tips, Thank you🙂
You are so welcome, Tora!
Thank you for sharing your tips. I'm a kindergarten teacher from saudi arabia
Rawan M - So glad you found my channel!
I teach children between 2 1/2 and 3. I plan on adding many more props to this years circle time. Just out of curiosity, do you do any Welcome or good morning songs? Also, do you do any form of days of the week/calendar type thing at circle at this age as well?
I’m so excited to try these tips, I’ve recently become the sub for the 2/3 year old class at my center in the morning. I’m usually the school age/after school teacher so it’s a big transition for me!
So happy to have you in our community. Enjoy your new position!
Thanks for sharing! You say your students look at books when they come to the carpet for transitions, etc. Do they put them away before the circle lesson begins or they transition?
Kristen Connelly - Both. If we are there for circle time, they will put their books in the basket when I am ready to start circle. If we are there because we are getting ready to transition elsewhere, they put their books away when we are getting ready to leave. They know because I sing a little song (that I made up) that tells them it’s time to put their books away. And those first few weeks I work with them on how to put the books GENTLY into the basket, not throwing them.(Because yes, that’s what some of them want to do.)
New Subbie here! Love your tips! Do you have a video for online teaching as well with this age group? I would love to see that.
Welcome! So happy you found my videos! I no longer have my virtual teaching videos. So sorry!
It is a challenge for me too they all start running .and I'm going to try to make use of these tips
Start short and simple. I cannot stress that enough. Good luck!
More please thankful here!
This is great information!! I appreciate your knowledge. Is calendar time an important thing in a 2 year old classroom?
Hi Susan - I don't feel it's developmentally appropriate for 2 year olds. Even our 3 and 4 year old teachers wait until midway through the school year to start their calendar time. Our circle times focus on songs, nursery rhymes, stories, and simple activities using props.
As an ECE student who is starting to go on practicums this is really helpful, thank you so much.
Amey - So glad it’s helpful! 🙂
Thank you for your tips! I'm ateacher from 🇧🇪 Belgium and was wondering how many kids you have at the end of the year. I saw you let the children just sit on the mat wherever they like. I start with 11 and then i see this possible but at the end there are 23 kids. I imagen that might cause problems (crawling over each other, accidentally hurting each other or sitting on his knees in front of someone that he cant see) so im still deciding how to handle this. Any ideas and tips? Thanks!
Since I have some 2 year olds, our state will not let me have more than 10 children in our class. So yes, that does make it easier when gathering at circle time. You could have little mats for them to sit on. You could tape their pictures to them so they know which one is theirs. When I taught 3 and 4 year olds, I used cheap vinyl placemats.
Thank you
I'm gaining an arsenal of knowledge yet hesitant, to "unleash"😏how do I approach circle time with only one student? I'm a at home mom from oklahoma
Amanda Kuder - You can find a nice place to sit and read a book and then recite fingerplays, songs, or whatever you wish. 😊
Excellent. Thanks for your help 👍
i saw that you use the basket for transitions, I just wondering how often do you rotate the books in the basket?
Usually every 2 weeks when we change our theme. But if there are books I know have been favorites, I will leave them in there longer.
Hi there, I loved your videos..I would like to ask how to choose songs in order and why did you choose that order?
Could you lift a few short circle time books? I work with 1 1/2 - 2 year olds
Here are some good ones: teaching2and3yearolds.com/the-best-books-for-busy-toddlers/
So true. If its not working STOP, end it as if its a part of your plan.."we will hear part 2 later" , Song to transition. Keep lessons Short, interactive, incorporate movement breaks, and STOP if its not working!! Its ok.😇
Engagement of 1 activity with no movement, interaction, or change of voice, is about twice the age !!!! (No longer than 45 minutes-lecture style, no interaction, for an adult.)
rhondamg - That’s a great idea to let them know they will hear the rest later!
What do you do when the moment you turn on the music they think it’s time to tackle? 7 boys 3 girls? The classroom I’m taking over had no structure and they basically thought the circle time rug meant let’s play football.
We stop. Music time is not "tackling time". Or, if it's just a couple of children, I will have my assistant remove them and they can go to the quiet area for awhile. I always ask them a few minutes later if they are ready to come back and join us. But first it's important that they understand the rules of circle time. Tackling is not okay. Then, be consistent with consequences. Another thing I look at is if they've gotten enough large motor time. If my students are super energetic and not into what we are doing at circle time, or even at music time, we might need extra time outside or in the gym where they can run. Also, look at the placement of circle time/music time in your day. Are you having circle/music time after they've already been expected to confine their bodies? Maybe this might be better after large motor time, where they've first had the chance to move their bodies? Again, if something isn't working, observe and see what needs to be changed. Sometimes this takes awhile.
Thanks for sharing these ideas! I remember dancing to baby shark was a live saver when I began to teach 2-3year olds. It always worked and brought them together.
Favorites like that are definitely a lifesaver on those days where you feel like nothing else is working. Turn on the song and there you go!
I struggle doing circles
You’re not alone. It’s a challenge for many teachers! I discuss more about circle time on teaching2and3yearolds.com and in my newsletters, as it is a popular topic. Hang in there and make sure you keep them short and simple, using props, not adding more time until you feel they are ready.
How we can know the name of the books
I have 16 years of experience and I like your advices.
In this particular topic is exactly like that.
The concept is to bring them little by little everyday.
I teach 2 years old before.Love kids and love to be a preschool teacher.💙
What opinions do you have for 2 different teachers doing circle on different days?
I actually did that years ago. My co-teacher and I would alternate being in charge of circle time for 2 weeks. After I did circle time for 2 weeks, then she would. But you could change it daily or weekly, too. Whatever works. The teacher that was not in charge of circle time would sit with the children.
How to do circle time on zoom?
How to get there attention because all kids are new and have no idea at all, Due to pandemic schools are not opening and they don't know who is the teacher.
I share what I've done here: teaching2and3yearolds.com/connecting-with-students-during-school-closures/
What is the name of that here is my hands book
Hi Amy! Here's the link: amzn.to/3vZo1wR
How many children in a class of two year olds is too many? I have 19 this year and I feel like it’s way too many!
I'm fortunate that our state licensing limits us to ten.