Learning that circle time is not the best way to teach preschoolers changed my teaching.
As you know many preschoolers (especially these days) resist coming to the rug, have trouble sitting still, roll around on the rug, interject “off topic” remarks or otherwise interrupt our plans.
It turns out that developmentally this is to be expected of 2-5 year olds.
But yet you may be required to hold these large group experiences.
Or, at the very least it’s customary in your program, center or school.
So what’s a teacher to do!?
Well, what I learned was the focus of circle time and other large group experiences should be inspiring children to gather as a community.
Arguably the goal of large group in preschool is to learn to love coming to large group!
Simple as that.
And, if some children learn a thing or two beyond that then great, that’s icing on the cake.
But in terms of the knowledge and skills we are assigned with teaching for most children those things are better learned during centers, small groups, and even integrated in transitions and games or even lunchtime conversation throughout the day.
Are you with me on this? Is this idea new for you? What do you think?
Let me know in the comments below.
AND if you’re looking for effective and easy to implement strategies to inspire children to come to large group, check out our Transform Large Online Training.
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