tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post8359424706037230416..comments2024-03-25T18:30:16.490-04:00Comments on Organized Chaos: Making Every Voice Heard in Elementary Music: the benefits of circlesElizabeth Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12042281726294433770noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-9640600625749641222021-10-11T04:36:11.523-04:002021-10-11T04:36:11.523-04:00That's awesome! I'd love to hear how it go...That's awesome! I'd love to hear how it goes. Remember real change takes time and effort- you may not see immediate improvement but I truly believe that when done well, these practices can make a tremendous difference.Elizabeth Caldwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042281726294433770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-46645302900251326602021-10-08T14:47:43.924-04:002021-10-08T14:47:43.924-04:00I just had Restorative Practices training in Septe...I just had Restorative Practices training in September. I'm planning to implement circles next week with my troublesome fifth grade class. I look forward to using some general questions, then throwing in a few music ones as well. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06681914952764351222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-17387823010310844162019-08-08T04:59:54.673-04:002019-08-08T04:59:54.673-04:00Teaching on a cart definitely makes everything mor...Teaching on a cart definitely makes everything more complicated! There are a few homeroom teachers in my building who don't have a good way to form an actual circle in their rooms so they've worked out alternatives- the main thing is to try to find a way for students to be able to see each other and to have a clear order when you're taking turns, like you said- table groups sound like a good way to go! I wouldn't worry too much about trying to keep track of who has said what when unless it's for a specific assessment- I think that would deter you from using them in class if you were trying to track that much data! For me I just make sure I differentiate which conversations are ones that can be optional and which need to be mandatory to contribute. Remember the students who don't choose to speak can still learn by listening (and often the ones who opt out are the ones who learn better from listening without the "threat" of having to speak themselves)! Elizabeth Caldwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042281726294433770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-72125432087358076962019-08-07T21:12:26.492-04:002019-08-07T21:12:26.492-04:00I love the idea of circles, but my problem is that...I love the idea of circles, but my problem is that I am on a cart and move from classroom to classroom. Sometimes there is space in the room for a circle...sometimes there is no way I can find room for the class to sit in a circle!! I do have class discussions, but when Im not in a circle, I need to consciously make sure every child has had a turn to talk.....I will probably do it by table groups instead!! Thanks for the ideas and I like the option for a child to 'pass', but I need to make sure they do participate eventually....hard to keep track of with so many students and in multiple rooms and schools!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13323483940339486080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-3096137088348914212019-07-25T06:11:56.533-04:002019-07-25T06:11:56.533-04:00It really depends. I would definitely recommend do...It really depends. I would definitely recommend doing them more frequently in the beginning of the school year to get students used to the process, then feel out how often you want to do them and how much time you can reasonably devote to them and get the results you want. For classes you only see once a week my best estimate would be to say do them every class or at least every other class in the beginning, and then once a month. Some classes need to do them more frequently than others just because of the particular mix of children in the room, how much voice they have in their homeroom, etc.Elizabeth Caldwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042281726294433770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-45092248363040521972019-07-23T19:14:15.126-04:002019-07-23T19:14:15.126-04:00Would you do these once a week? or at the beginnin...Would you do these once a week? or at the beginning of every class? or. . .once a month? Some classes I only see once a week.Jordann Zazahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10492592568869011446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-38316029811880630862017-08-16T05:38:56.739-04:002017-08-16T05:38:56.739-04:00Thank you for your sweet words Aimee! I have alway...Thank you for your sweet words Aimee! I have always tried to build community and get to know students etc, and I've even had opportunities for everyone to share like this before, but I think this structured, conscious routine/format will help to improve our classroom community further :)Elizabeth Caldwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042281726294433770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-49849949007294895762017-08-16T05:37:19.826-04:002017-08-16T05:37:19.826-04:00Yes, always! Or sometimes the first few people hav...Yes, always! Or sometimes the first few people haven't had enough time to think, but if they pass they'll have more time to come up with an answer to give later.Elizabeth Caldwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042281726294433770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-78496770912894006142017-08-16T05:36:40.172-04:002017-08-16T05:36:40.172-04:00It's one of those things that I say I want to ...It's one of those things that I say I want to do before the school year begins, but when reality sets in, I just don't find the time for it. I'm hopeful that my making a conscious decision to prioritize this more this year it will become more routine so we can all reap the benefits of a more cohesive classroom community!Elizabeth Caldwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042281726294433770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-63975428527076992952017-08-15T16:46:17.290-04:002017-08-15T16:46:17.290-04:00What wonderful ideas. I use circles to give each c...What wonderful ideas. I use circles to give each child a turn to improvise a movement or instrumental technique with rhythm instruments, but now I think I will try doing the verbal sharing also - a good way to learn more about each of my students!Abigail Allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01640146721389406714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-51164379549214481232017-08-15T10:58:12.739-04:002017-08-15T10:58:12.739-04:00My favorite part about this was that students have...My favorite part about this was that students have the option to "pass", but can then change their mind later. As a painfully shy student myself, I would've passed the first time, but felt more confident to try later after others had already spoken. Thank you for sharing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04528207504273223827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819722186267743707.post-22610644903864487142017-08-15T06:36:41.610-04:002017-08-15T06:36:41.610-04:00I love this, Elizabeth! What a wonderful way to b...I love this, Elizabeth! What a wonderful way to build community and foster a sense of knowing our many students. Aimee https://www.blogger.com/profile/01284155132817242419noreply@blogger.com