Community Circle
Fostering Oral Language Development
Stage of Literacy Development:
Stage 0: Foundation for LiteracyStage 1: Beginning Literacy
Stage 2: Consolidation / Fluency
Ages:
4-8
Grade Range:
K 1st 2ndFood Groups:
Primary: Oral Language & ELL
Activity Description
Preparation:
-
Select an object that will be used for turn-taking
- For example: A stuffed animal
Implementation:
- Invite students to join you in a circle
-
Review the group expectations
- For example: Mutual Respect, Attentive Listening, No Put Downs and The Right to Pass
-
Introduce a topic or a sentence starter
- For example: “I am grateful that...”
- Model a complete sentence
- Pass the object used for turn-taking around the circle and have each student share information related to the topic
Adaptations For
English Language Learners/ESL:
- Prior to the community circle have the student practice his/her response
- Allow other students to share ideas first as examples
- Prompt the student if necessary
LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:
- Repeat the expectations and topic throughout the activity
- Keep instructions short
Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:
- Select topics that are culturally inclusive
- Allow students to share their own experiences and make personal connections to the topic
- Hold a Community Circle regularly to promote an inclusive learning environment
Differentiated Instruction:
- Record and display the sentence starter as a visual reference
Related References
Source: Tribes Learning Community: http://tribes.com/
Evidence: Blomberg, G. (2011). The power of informal talk. Reading Teacher, 46, 460.
Activity Objective
The goal of Community Circle: Fostering Oral Language Development is to use a method developed by Jeanne Gibbs to promote oral language development by modeling and encouraging spoken language that is purposeful and descriptive.
What You Need
Prep Time:
10 minutes - Select an object for turn-taking
Task Time:
20-30 minutes - Teacher shares topic
- Students share information related to topic
Materials Required:
Teacher:
- Turn-taking object
What You Do
Teacher Role:
Facilitator:
- during sharing times
Student Grouping:
Whole class:
- when teacher shares topic and students share information
Assessment Ideas:
- Use a checklist to track student participation and speaking and listening skills
- Take anecdotal notes following the Community Circle and track students ideas as well as oral communication skills
- Provide oral feedback to the whole class and make general comments and next steps related to students speaking and listening skills
Quick Tips
Activity Extensions:
- Hold a Community Circle on a regular basis and select a variety of topics
a. For example: "One good thing that happened to me on the weekend...I wish...I hope that..."
- Have students share a goal that they would like to accomplish at school
- Use the Community Circle to introduce or review a subject or topic of study
- Have students select the topic by submitting a piece of paper with their topic of choice the day before
Additional Comments:
- The Community Circle is part of the Tribes Learning Community and fosters a safe and caring classroom where students feel included and appreciated by others. Making the Community Circle an important and regular part of your classroom will give all students an opportunity to share their thinking.
- Use different methods for sharing and taking turns, including a "talking stick" or a koosh ball.
Other Adaptations/Modifications:
- Strategically seat students who might need prompts or cues to refocus next to you
Other Recipes by this Teacher
Who Lives Here?: Building Background Knowledge
K - 1st
Picture Writing: Using Student Art to Motivate Early Writing
PreK - 1st
The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in Pre-Kindergarten
PreK - 6th
Mind Pictures: Promoting Comprehension through Visualization
PreK - 3rd
Where's the Sound?: Listening for Beginning, Middle, and End Sounds
PreK - 1st
