Circle Time- Teaching Tots

Circle time is a tool used in most preschool- kindergarten classrooms to set the tone for the day while repeating new information they are meant to be learning.  In older elementary classes, it is slowly replaced by calendar time and then eventually going over the day’s schedule and saying the pledge of allegiance. 

Creating a circle time routine is important because it sets the tone and expectations for the day while also practicing memory and sitting still to listen to directions.  To have a great circle time, I recommend setting up a special space to hold things like the calendar, schedule, and reminders so the child can refer back to the information as the day progresses.

While it is imperative to do circle time during the week, I also recommend doing an abbreviated circle time on the weekends too so everyone is on the same page for what is going to happen over the weekend.  Setting expectations is always a great idea.

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What does Circle Time Look Like?

Circle time is a moment in the morning where you set the tone and expectations for the day.  Depending on your child’s age, your circle time may have more or fewer elements, and everyone is likely to teach different things. 

Most circle times have some of the following elements:

• Going over the calendar (date, day of the week, counting to the day, showing it on the calendar, etc.)
• Color of the week/ day (make it a game, optional)
• Letter of the week/ day (make it a game, optional)
• Shape of the week/ day (make it a game, optional)
• number of the week/ day (make it a game, optional)
• Short math problem or drill/ pattern problem
• Word and sight word of the week/ day
• A quick “remembering” of what we learned yesterday
• The day’s schedule (this is where you remind them of any meetings, etc you may have and set expectations for behavior as well.  You will have to repeat this before any meetings as well)
• Flashcards or matching game
• Songs (the ABC’s, songs for the days of the week/ months of the year, etc.)
• Reading a book aloud
• Choosing assignments for the day (try and adapt them to include the words of the day)

How long is Circle Time

While that seems like a lot, some elements come and go depending on the age and ability of your children.  Circle time should only take about 15 minutes, and no longer than 20 minutes.  

To keep it to that length, you have to change circle time to match the level and interests of your children.  Remember, teach to the highest level and make allowances for younger students.  

You should aim to do circle time during or just after breakfast.  That way it is built into the routine and you can set the tone for the day.  On weekends, use an abbreviated circle time that focuses on the day of the week and the schedule for the day.

Example of Circle Time Schedule for 2-4 Year Olds:

This is actually the circle time schedule I use right now.  My daughter is just about to turn 2 and we do circle time every day.  She is interested in stories and I’m trying to teach her colors, numbers and letters.

So this is what we do every morning:

1. Calendar time
   1. Count out the date.  The date is also our number of the day. If it is the 23rd, we count to 23 on the calendar and then place a sticker on it.  23 would then be the number of the day.  
   2. I write out the date (ie- October 23, 2020) and then let her erase it or put stickers on it.
2. Go over the Schedule for the day
   1. For this age a picture schedule is helpful.
3. Color of the Week
   1. I display a paint strip of the color of the week and we try to find other items that match that color.
   2. We may also read her color book
4. Shape of the Week 
   1. I point at the shape and then we try to find things that shape.  She is currently really into balls, so our shape right now is circle.  Then we can find “circles” and throw them.
5. Letter of the Week
   1. I try to make the letter of the week match something else in the week.  So I could choose T for Twenty or B for Blue.  That way she has reinforcement on sound.
   2. We also find the letter in her alphabet book and play with a wooden puzzle letter to get a feel for it.
6. New word of the day
   1. This is generally an animal or physical object we can touch and hold.  I try to use that word throughout the day in our games.
7. Talk about the weather
   1. I live in the desert. The weather is always sunny and either hot or cold.  No real in betweens.  But we still talk about it anyway so we know how to dress for the day.
8. Sing ABCs
9. Read a Book (or two, or three, or 18… basically until she stops bringing me books)
   1. We are currently reading a chapter of “How to Train Your Dragon” and then whatever books she picks to read.  Current favorites include “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” “Find it First Words” from Highlights, and “Who Goes Roar”

As children master these elements, slowly feather in more complex words of the week, sight words, and math problems/ pattern finding.  This is a base schedule, amend it to suit your family.

Example of Circle Time Schedule for 5-8 Year Olds:

1. Going over the calendar (date, day of the week, counting to the day, showing it on the calendar, etc.)
   1. Have the child find the date on the calendar and write it down in their notebook.  All their work for the day in their notebook will be after the date they have written.  Have them put the date at the top of the page.
2. The day’s schedule 
   1. This is where you remind them of any meetings, etc you may have and set expectations for behavior.  You will have to repeat this before any meetings
   2. Set the expectations for what work should get done for the day.  Highlight any projects or chores that need to get finished and point out times they can choose what they want to do
   3. Choose what assignments they want to do in the times where they have options
3. Go over the weather and any science experiments that need daily watching
   1. Feed the sourdough starter or check your weather instruments.  Whatever is a daily science task
4. Short math problem
   1. Math minutes
   2. A challenging math puzzle or problem relating to what they have been working on
   3. Math magic or mental math
   4. Finishing a pattern
5. Word and sight word of the week/ day
   1. At this point the word of the day should also be one they learn to spell.  Have them write it in their notebook.  
   2. You could potentially have the list of all their spelling words posted and just really focus on one or two per day
   3. Go over the definition of the word, and then have them write a journal entry in their journal using the word(s) of the day.
6. Flashcards or matching game
   1. Quickly go through any flashcards or bits of information they are trying to memorize.  These could be anything from the names of the continents to the presidents of the US.  
7. Mnemonic Memorizations/ songs
   1. Go over things like PEMDAS or little rhymes you are using to memorize any information.
   2. Sing a seasonal song or two
8. Reading a book aloud
   1. Pick something just above their level that they can follow but would have a hard time reading themselves.  At this age, my dad was reading us “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”.  We asked a lot of questions about words, but we could follow it and learned a lot.  You could also read plays and act out scenes.  Then ask questions about why characters did what they did and what they were feeling to build empathy. 
   2. If you have multiple children, consider picking a book that can be passed around so everyone reads to everyone else.  That will help keep them interested and allow reading aloud practice.

How To Set Up A Circle Time Space

It is important to have dedicated circle time space.  That way the child can come back and refer to the calendar or the things we are learning today.  An older child may need to check the spelling of the word of the day.  A younger child may want to refer to the picture schedule.  Having it in a consistent place is important.

Location, Location, Location

Where you put your circle time space is as important as what you have there.  

If you plan to do circle time during breakfast, you should have your circle time pace where you eat. But if you plan to use it to kick off the school/ work day, it may be a better idea to have it in the office or school room.  

Be sure to set up your circle time space/ station where you will essentially trip over it in the course of your normal daily routine.  That way you are more likely to consistently do it.

What Should Your Space Have?

Bare minimum, your circle time space should have some kind of calendar and a littl edisplay space for other materials you are working on with your child.  Ideally, it would include:

• Calendar
• Whiteboard type space
• The ABCs 
• Numbers
• Shapes
• Colors
• Weather chart
• Space for books and activities
• The schedule
• Somewhere comfortable for everyone to sit

Do you need all that in that one space?  Not really, but it makes life much easier. 

I’m going to be honest.  I don’t have all of that in my circle time space.  My house is a constant work in progress.  Someday I will have all that set up, but right now I’m happy with my ABCs and numbers.

My Circle Time Space

This is my current circle time setup.  As I said before, it is always changing and everything in my house is a work in progress. 

I set up her circle time station in the reading corner of her playroom.  Why?  Because:

1. Her alphabet decals were already on the wall there and she was driving me crazy by continuously pulling them off the wall,
2. By setting it up in her playroom I am subtly encouraging her to work on some shelf work and go play.

In that order.  

I mean really, I needed her to stop pulling those stickers off the wall before I lost my mind.  My setup makes it so she can’t pull them off the wall anymore and that makes me very happy.  And we spend a lot of time in her playroom, so it was a good place for it anyway.

You will notice I’ve divided her clear polycarbonate “white board” into 3 segments.  The bottom ⅓ is for her to draw and put stickers on.  It is easily reached when she is sitting, kneeling, and standing.  Right now it has some Melissa and Doug vinyl reusable stickers on it.  My daughter loves pulling off and replacing the stickers.

The middle ⅓ has ABC wall decals behind the polycarbonate sheet.  That way my very inquisitive little girl can’t peel them off (thank god!) and she can still point at them and I can tell her what they are.  Having them behind the polycarb also lets us use the wall decals for games.  We can match the different fish stickers to the first letter of their species type.  She can currently reach this ⅓ of the board, but must be standing and often needs to stretch to reach the top row.

The top ⅓ is for reference material.  I use small binder clips to clip things like the weather station and the color strip for the color of the week behind the polycarb sheet.  We also have the calendar up there, letter of the week, and (eventually) the shape of the week.  We put the calendar and weather station behind the polycarb so we can use stickers to highlight today’s weather and date.

On the other side of the corner, under the window, there is a number line made of number cards.  Each number shows the number in butterflies as well so she can get used to seeing how we group objects when counting.  She can spend a good 20 minutes focused on the number line and the ABCs pointing at them and asking what they are, which is why they are all at exactly her height.  

In front of her “white” board and number line are cushions from an old couch and a mass of pillows.  She uses this as a reading/ calming down corner, and we can both snuggle in and cuddle while we read.  It is quite cozy.

What I Used to Make the Circle Time Space

If you are interested in what I used to create my space, here are the links to all the products.  If I am missing something you are interested in, let me know in the comments and I will add it.

• ABC Decals
• Polycarbonate Sheet
• Wall Brackets for “white” board.  If you don’t have a 3D printer, you can just use wooden molding.  If you want these brackets and don’t have a 3D printer, contact me and we can work something out.
• Weather Printable 
• Laminating Sheets (to protect the number cards and other printables)
• Calendar- we just used a freebie sent from Highlights.  You could use any calendar or you could just print out one from your calendar app or system. 
• Melissa and Doug Reusable Sticker Pads (we use these for vocabulary and for playing with stickers)

What does your morning routine look like?  Do you do circle time?  How do you get focused for the day?  Let me know in the comments below!

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