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INFUSING CIRCLE TIME CONCEPT IN PEDAGOGY

Tham-Kee Yong Huang

Hwa Chong Institution

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JC levels : lecture-tutorial system

Tutorials in classroom – approx 1 hr per session

Introduction

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A TYPICAL CLASSROOM ARRANGEMENT…

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ISSUES ARISING:

Not all students are actively engaged in the lessons

Students with short attention span find it hard to sustain their attention for 1 hr

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ISSUES ARISING:

A small group of students monopolise the answering of questions Many simply ‘switch off’

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ISSUES ARISING:

free-seating’ so students sit with their ‘clique’

Private talks/jokes

Disruption to lessons and affects other students who desire to learn

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Circle time!Circle time!

The solution…

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WHY CIRCLE TIME?

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To increase the engagement level increase the engagement level of students during tutorials

To sustain students’ attention sustain students’ attention throughout the 1-hr lesson

Objectives

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-DEVELOPED BY DR SUE ROFFEY

- SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LITERACY

- RELATIONSHIPS, RESILIENCE, RESPONSIBILITY

CIRCLE TIME SOLUTIONSCIRCLE TIME SOLUTIONS

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What I did…What I did…

Adapt the CIRCLE TIME concept to tutorial setting

Incorporating INTERACTIVE pedagogical strategies in lessons

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DR SUE’S CIRCLE SOLUTIONS AIM TO..

develop a caring classroom ethos and sense of belonging - increasing school connectedness

develop the self-awareness, social and emotional skills that support resilience and healthy relationships

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A TYPICAL CIRCLE SESSION (REF: DR SUE)

Principles Check inMixer ActivityActivity Energizer Check out

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EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES

Greeting game Mix up game ‘Pass on’ games Paired interview Pair share Sentence completion Silent statement Energiser Support and

communication games Group collaboration Role play

Values: Structured small group discussions presented as games

Feelings: Exploring a range of issues in a safe, indirect way.

Strengths: identifying and developing abilities and personal qualities

Our class - taking responsibility for what happens here

Visualisation / stories Relaxation strategies

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MY CIRCLE EXPERIENCE WITH 08S6P

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FRAMEWORK

Check In

Mixer

Content Top-UpContent Top-Up

Energiser

Check Out

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First lessonStudents seated in one big circle (with gap in front for teacher)

Mixer Rationale of CIRCLES explained.Rules of CIRCLES laid.Agreement made to abide by the rules.

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The RulesOne voice at a timeEverybody participatesNo put downsYou can skip your turn, but we will come back to you

Buzz timeQuiet signalRed card

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CONTENT TOP-UPCONTENT TOP-UPObjectives of lessons – on WB, to

be reviewed at end of lessonStrategies used to engage

studentsTeacher as facilitatorDisruptive behavior managed

immediately using the ‘proximity’ technique

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EXAMPLES OF STRATEGIES EXAMPLES OF STRATEGIES

Background knowledge probe – 1. 2. 3 fingers

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EXAMPLES OF STRATEGIES EXAMPLES OF STRATEGIES Opening and closing – FOLDED FILE FOLDERS

Name Topic

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THE K W L

This student has learnt what he has wanted to know and more.

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Misconceptions are corrected.

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EXAMPLES OF STRATEGIES EXAMPLES OF STRATEGIES Talking chips – participation by all

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ENGAGEMENT IS THE KEY

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LESSON CLOSURELESSON CLOSURE

Understanding continuum

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CHECK OUT – LESSON CHECK OUT – LESSON CLOSURECLOSUREUnderstanding continuum

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FEEDBACK

‘NORMAL’ LESSONS ‘CIRCLES’ LESSONS

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FEEDBACK

‘NORMAL’ LESSONS ‘CIRCLES’ LESSONS

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FEEDBACK

‘NORMAL’ LESSONS ‘CIRCLES’ LESSONS

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FEEDBACK

‘NORMAL’ LESSONS ‘CIRCLES’ LESSONS

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FEEDBACK

‘NORMAL’ LESSONS ‘CIRCLES’ LESSONS

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FEEDBACK

I like tutorials in CIRCLES because…• they are very engaging•they keep me awake and attentive•I am more alert•they make lessons more interesting•the folded folder allows us to better understand the concepts taught

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FEEDBACK

I like tutorials in CIRCLES because…•they are more interactive•they force us to participate in class, which is good, given that we are usually passive during normal lessons•They help to facilitate learning in a more focused environment

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FEEDBACK

18 out of 25 students said the lessons are more engaging and interactive.

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CIRCLE TIME SATISFIES THE 3 BASIC NEEDS

Autonomy

Competence

Relatedness

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LIMITATIONSLIMITATIONS

Strategies used before, during and at the end of lessons should be varied so students will not get bored at the predictable moves by the teacher.

The CIRCLES method cannot be used in every lesson, otherwise it will lose its novelty.

Recommendation is to use CIRCLES for about 20% of the lessons.

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LIMITATIONSLIMITATIONS

Physical constraints:

suitable classroom arrangement of chairs suitable furniture

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RESOURCESRESOURCESCircle time for emotional literacy

by Sue Roffeyhttp://pdc.oetc.org/strategies

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME