Reflections on Community Circle
One of the coolest things I've done in my teaching career was inspired by a program that my school district purchased called, Developmental Designs. The whole program is about building community in the classroom. It also has components that help with discipline and restorative practices. On my last student day, after teaching 32 years, I recorded my students talking about what "circle" or "story time" meant to them. I thought you might be interested in hearing from the kids themselves the impact that it had on them. It was literally their favorite time of class. It's something that I'll cherish forever -- getting to know my "kids."
