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In the play, Ricki’s self esteem is raised when she begins
to realise that she can read. Many circle time activities and co-operative
games can be used in order to raise self esteem and sense of achievement
in the classroom. Below are a few activities which are specifically
designed to help raise self-esteem.
Children take it in turns to put on an old hat and complete a sentence
“I used to be / feel …” before swapping it for
a new hat to say how things have changed. For example, “I
used to ask the teacher what all the words were but now I can read
almost all of my reading book” / “I used to feel sad
at dinner times but now my friend helps me”.
One child puts on a hat and throws a large dice. The hat is passed
on this number of children. The child who threw the dice says something
positive about the child now wearing the hat.
Children design a series of cards. On one set are treats, such as
taking the register or choosing a story. These are called 'Take
Cards'. The other set are 'Give Cards', e.g. sharing a toy, helping
someone tidy up. All cards are placed in a bag which is passed around
to music. When the music stops, a card is taken and kept by that
child until they have given or received the promise on it.
Children stand in a circle. One child catches another’s eye
and smiles at them. These two change places and the game continues.
Keeper of the Keys - the children sit in a large circle with a chair
in the middle. A child sitting on the chair is blindfolded and has
a bunch of keys at their side. Around them are placed various obstacles
such as overturned chairs and scrunched up newspaper. Another child
is chosen to creep up and pick up the keys. If the child in the
centre hears them, they must point at them. If they point correctly
another child is chosen to try. After the game, discuss how it felt
to achieve something or what obstacles were in the way of achieving.
What have the children found hard to achieve in life but now succeeded
at?
A mirror is placed inside a box which is then passed round the circle.
Children are told that when they look inside it they will see someone
special. They are asked not to reveal the secret until everyone
has had a go!
Children sit in a circle and turn to the person next to them. They
find something that they are both good at. Now they turn to the
person on the other side and do the same. Now each child introduces
the person to their right, saying their own name, the name of the
other child and what they are both good at.
Children sit in chairs in a circle. One person stands in the centre
and calls out “Anyone who is good at ….” Any child
who thinks they fit the description stands up and swaps places with
another child. At the same time the person in the centre tries to
sit in one of the seats. Children are asked to accept any child
standing up and not to contradict them.
A toy or puppet is introduced. Children are invited to say how it
might be feeling and why. If the puppet is not happy, children are
asked to suggest who or what might help.
Please note that some of these ideas are taken from Jenny Mosley's
book Quality Circle Time in the Primary Classroom also
Jane Gilmore and Patrick Dymond's book The Co-operative Classroom.
Please refer to the Bibliography
for further information. |
