Solving Problems
In Circles

Many teachers use the circle format for class meetings. In the circle format a teacher might pose a daily or weekly question that all students in the circle answer, a question such as

Students gain comfort in the circle format. The simple format and process allows them to express themselves candidly and build relationships in the classroom.

The students comfort with the circle format means the format is one you can use when classroom issues need to be addressed. For example, on a day when a class has been a bit unruly, a teacher might use the circle to get support for confronting the inappropriate behavior. Teachers might pose the question

Teachers often are amazed at how well this simple strategy works to achieve classroom decorum.

Adapted from an idea shared by Ted Wachtel

09/14/2010