Circle time is a highlight of our day in Kitah Alef and an important part of our daily routine! It is a chance for us to come together to form connections as a class. It is also an opportunity for us to introduce new themes and discuss our upcoming day! We often bring props to circle time such as shaky eggs, plush Torahs or items from the holiday we are learning about to further our learning in a tangible way! Since children thrive with routine and knowing what to expect, we sing the same songs every day for consistency.
Before we start circle time we sing:
(Tune of "London Bridge")
"Circle time is starting now,
starting now, starting now,
Circle time is starting now,
on the rug."
When the children hear this song, they run to the rug ready for circle time! We begin by saying hello to our breathing tool, Happy Flower! Happy Flower is a playful way to teach children to fill their lungs fully as they smell the flower, and blow the air out through their mouth. Teaching children how to take a deep breath is essential to their composure and self regulation.
"Lets say hello to Happy Flower
He helps us feel calm.
Happy flower says,
Smile! Cheese!
Take a deep breath.
And blow."
x3
We ask the children “do you feel that?” while putting our hand on our chest. We practice Happy Flower throughout the day as needed :) We then say bye bye to Happy Flower and return it to the basket.
Safe Keeper Ritual
In a Conscious Discipline classroom the teacher is the safe keeper who keeps the class and the friends safe. Each morning we say together "My job is to keep you safe and your job is to help" while holding up our safe keepers we made earlier in the year. This symbolizes our commitment to the children and their commitment to helping to create a safe environment for all at school.
With our question hands wide open we sing:
"Who is here today,
Who is here today,
Who's in school?
Who's in school?
Good morning to (friends name) you're in school!"
If a friend is home or on a trip we wish them well by singing:
"We wish you well,
We wish you well,
All day long today,
We wish you well!"
We finish our safe keeper ritual by holding up our pictures and saying "Morah's job is to keep me safe and your job is to help!"
For Tefilah circle we begin by all the friends pretending to go to sleep! A Morah says:
"Everybody go to sleep..
I do not hear a sound.. shhhh!
The children are asleep,
The room is very very quiet!
(yawn! big strech!)
Wake up you sleep heads!"
Modeh Ani
(Tune of "You are my Sunshine")
Every morning, when I'm done sleeping
I open up my eyes and say,
Thank you Hashem for my Neshama,
and for giving me another day! Hooray!
Modeh Ani, lefanecha, melech chai,
Vekayam, she'he'chezarta, be neshma'ati,
be'chemla ra'ba, emunatecha.
Washing hands
(Tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush")
This is the way we wash our hands,
wash our hands, wash our hands,
This is the way we wash our hands so early in the morning.
Once on the right and once on the left,
Splash!
Once on the right and once on the left,
Splash!
Once on the right and once on the left,
so early in the morning.
Shema
Hide your hands behind your back so we can say shema!
(Tune of "Where is Thumbkin")
Where's your right hand?
Where's your right hand?
Here I am!
Here I am!
I need you for Shema,
I need you for Shema,
right away!
Shema yisrael, Ado-nai Elo-heinu, Ado-nai, Echad.
(whisper) Baruch shem kevod, malchuto leolam va'ed.
I love Hashem and Hashem loves me!
This is followed me a big “Yay!!!” from the children.
We conclude our circle time by singing our school family song!
(Tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb")
"We are a school family, family, family,
We are a school family, here at IJP.
We are Kitah Alef, Alef, Alef,
We are Kitah Alef, say hi to a friend! (Hi, hello! Hi!)
Morah's here to keep you safe,
keep you safe, keep you safe,
Morah's here to keep you safe,
and your job is to help."
We then transition to our next activity by singing
(Tune of "London Bridge")
"Circle time is over now,
over now, over now,
Circle time is over now,
Let's check the schedule to see whats next.
Circle time is well loved by all the children (and morahs!) Feel free to use this as a guide to run your own circle time at home and see how well the children know the songs!
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