Working In Circles In Primary And Secondary Classrooms

First published in 2014, this book is a comprehensive manual for anyone wishing to use the circle in their classroom for community building; social skills; democratic decision making or just having fun together as a class. It is a complete guide - saving valuable time in searching for a collection of fun games or resources suitable for primary or secondary classrooms. The manual covers: the reasons, benefits and methodology of using circles in classrooms; the ways they can be used; and many examples of circle sessions for both primary and secondary classrooms. Circles in schools can build and create a sense of belonging, trust, loyalty and community-mindedness. Using circles in classrooms as described in this manual can create democratic classrooms where real learning occurs in safe supportive spaces.

Working in Circles in Primary and Secondary Classrooms is a comprehensive manual for anyone wishing to use the circle in their classroom for community building; social skills; democratic decision making or just having fun together as a class. It is a complete guide - saving valuable time in searching for a collection of fun games or resources suit

This work helps in rethinking behaviour management in the whole school through the use of restorative justice methods. School conferences have proved remarkably successful in teaching students about their responsibilities and accountability to other people. This manual fulfils an important role by outlining the techniques to learn and apply when planning and facilitating conferences. It includes guidance on: analysing current school practice; deciding whether to hold a conference; preparing a conference; convening and facilitating a conference; and, follow-up after a conference. The book contains many key documents such as preparation checklist, conference script, typical agreement, evaluation sheet and case studies. It is suitable for ages 8-16.

′This book is encouraging, easy to read and full of inspirational ideas about how to introduce different topics for discussion. Methods to encourage and develop group dynamics are clearly outlined. For any secondary school considering introducing circle time, this book makes a good case in its favour′ - Youth in Mind Includes CD-Rom The circle time teaching strategy is used extensively and successfully in primary schools, but secondary settings often find it difficult to implement. In this book, the authors advise on how a circle time programme can be developed in secondary schools, involving both staff and students. Drawing on their experience of using circle time to deliver the PSHE and Citizenship curricula, they present a framework that that can be followed or adapted by other secondary schools. The development includes: - consultation with students - choosing the topics for the programme of study - lesson plans written in the circle format - recommendation for links within the wider school community and other agencies. A CD-rom is included, providing lesson plans, circle time games, and advice on inclusion, group work and strategies and approaches suitable for the secondary setting. The book also shows how the programme can be evaluated, taking into account the perspectives of the trainer, the staff and the students. Any secondary school practitioner looking to implement a circle time programme in their school will find this a useful and practical resource. Marilyn Tew is a freelance consultant, trainer and facilitator, specialising in the relevance of group work, emotional literacy and Circle Time to PSHE. Hilary Potter is currently researching in the field of emotional literacy and has extensive experience of teaching and training across a range of educational settings. Mary Read has taught for over 25 years as well as writing and working as a trainer nationally.

Embarking on your first solo road trip. Receiving a special surprise that arrives out of the blue. Finding a sudden flash of inspiration that sets you on a wondrous new path. When we think about the moments that stand out in our memory, it's clear that our minds hold onto the unusual or unexpected. By tapping into students' innate curiosity, you can design memorable, meaningful learning experiences that captivate their interest and ignite their imaginations. Structured around four key elements that fuel engagement-surprise, curiosity, freedom, and inspiration-Keeping the Wonder offers practical strategies and abundant inspiration for K-12 educators to create lessons that are fun and compelling. Combining enchanting anecdotes, real-world experience, and a wealth of research, the authors share their collective expertise as educators and founders of the innovative Keeping the Wonder workshop. In this dynamic handbook, Jenna, Ashley, Abby, and Staci offer a fresh approach to learning through the lens of wonder. By providing creative ideas for switching up standard lesson plans in ways both subtle and profound, they show us how to recapture our fascination with the world by employing all of our senses, and enhance engagement and critical thinking for students and teachers alike. Endorsements Before reading Keeping the Wonder, I saw my social studies classroom for what it was: brick walls, desks, and a few colorful posters. Today, I see magic seeping through the cracks of every space. Keeping the Wonder reignited my passion for student engagement and learning with every turn of the page. -Dr. Jacob Bauer Zebley, high school social studies teacher and 2015 Cecil County Teacher of the Year From personal stories, practical advice, and research-based strategies, Keeping the Wonder is a book you will reach for time and again. After reading, you'll start looking not just at your own classroom and curriculum through the lens of wonder, but the world around you. A must read for any teacher who is looking to bring that sense of curiosity and love of learning back into their classroom. -Caitlin Mitchell and Jessica Cannata, cofounders of EB Academics and bestselling authors of The Empowered ELA Teacher

′This is a very practical guide to a teaching approach that enables children to become more powerful learners; it is also an opportunity to spend time with a big-hearted person who understands what happens for children in school and how circles can help them grow.′ - James Park, PROGRESS Director, Human Scale Education (www.progress-hse.org) ′Grounded in contemporary research, Roffey ignites the reader′s conviction that ′I can do this too!′ Gifting the educator with a treasure chest of fresh, engaging, practical and applicable ideas, this book makes it possible for every teacher to build both the learning and well-being of all young people.′ - Kerry Bird, Project Manager for Personal and Social Development Education in Catholic Education - Cairns and Brisbane First published as Circle Time for Emotional Literacy, this new edition has been updated to reflect how the Circle Solutions philosophy and pedagogy can be used to build relationships and resilience for children and young people. Putting current research on wellbeing into practice, Circle Solutions addresses issues not incidents, solutions rather than problems, and strengths rather than deficits, providing a framework for student engagement and learning. New to this edition: a chapter on promoting the positive: thoughts, feelings and approaches more anti-bullying strategies, with cyber-bullying covered explicitly a quick reference appendix of games ways of embedding Circle Solutions as a tool for wellbeing updated and expanded resources. Activities and games included in the book promote positive communication skills, empathy and connectedness, class cohesion and co-operation, friendship skills and ethical behaviour. The book is suitable for all phases of education. Circle Solutions in action Watch this photo-film about Circle Solutions showing the philosophy practice and the views of teachers, students and school principals about its effectiveness.

Written for the busy classroom teacher, this book provides quick access to an abundance of Circle Time activities. Building on the success of the first edition, this new book retains the original edition′s clarity and ease-of-access, whilst providing more than twice as much material. It has also been updated to take account of new legislation, including Every Child Matters and The National Standard for Healthy Schools. Clear headers guide the reader to core games and appropriate themes, each with helpful hints for planning and implementation, and to assist the smooth running of the sessions. The theme section demonstrates ways of using core Circle Time activities such as ′Sentence Completion′ and ′Silent Statements′ to explore sensitive issues such as friendships and bullying. An important new feature is a structure to help readers understand what they should be expecting from pupils during Circle Time at each key stage. New and expanded sections on group work and the development of Circle Time are also included. This is a valuable resource for teachers, educational psychologists and youth workers, whether they are experienced Circle Time practitioners or new to the technique.

Restorative practice is a proven approach to discipline in schools that favours relationships over retribution, and has been shown to improve behaviour and enhance teaching and learning outcomes. However, in order for it to work, restorative practice needs a relational school culture. Implementing Restorative Practice in Schools explains what has to happen in a school in order for it to become truly restorative. Section 1 explains the potential of restorative practice in schools, describing the positive outcomes for students and teachers. It also outlines the measures that need to be in place in order to embed restorative practice. Section 2 examines the process of understanding and managing change, providing realistic and pragmatic guidance on the practical and emotional barriers that may be encountered. Finally, Section 3 provides in eight practical steps, strategic guidance for achieving a restorative culture that sticks. Featuring useful pro formas and templates, this book will be an indispensable guide for educators, administrators and school leaders in mainstream and specialist settings.