Circle Time for Young Children

Youth Participation in U.S. Contexts: Student Voice Without a National Mandate

“…Carpettime democracy describes a form of classroom‐level practice in U.S. elementary classrooms in which students are involved in ongoing enquiry at their most local context for civic engagement. Such a classroom space, generally created in younger primary classrooms (K‐2) in which students sit together, usually in a circle, and talk about a variety of academic/non‐academic topics or concerns, has also been called Circle Time especially in the UK (see Mosley, ), daily meeting, classroom meeting and (class) ‘assembly’ (as translated) in Sweden. Most commonly discussed in the fields of social studies and civic education, this form of research and practice explores instances of teachers engaging children in considering multiple perspectives as a process for students to make decisions necessary to solve problems of their lives, their society and the world.…”

Children’s well-being in the primary school: A capability approach and community psychology perspective

“…These included for example: OK -making friends, achieving and not OK -shouting teacher, people being naughty/distracting. Circle Time (Mosley, 2005) Each session began and ended with circle time to acknowledge children's feelings as they began the sessions and to ensure their well-being at the end before returning to their classes. A small toy was passed around the circle to take turns -which then featured in some of their photographs as a group member.…”

Structured Spaces of Play in a Southwestern U.S. Urban Elementary Classroom: Dialectics of Community and Academic Rigor

“…One of the family-oriented activities which Ms. Chamorro implemented was her version of what is often referred to as "circle time," or the activity in which students check-in every morning about how they are feeling and any important ideas or issues they want to share with their classroom community (Mosley, 2005). The routine was highly ritualized and referred to as the "rose ceremony."…”