By Myra – Centers and Circle Time

20 tips for using music during Circle Time:

1. Before your circle time, if it’s possible, recruit help from an adult or one of your willing children.
2. Explain what you expect during circle time (I always say: “Please sit criss-cross applesause, hands in your lap.”).
3. Always know your audience (the age of the children matters, as younger kids can’t sit and focus for long).
4. Read your book ahead of time (just in case you have to improvise).
5. Prepare props/books/activities ahead of time and sit them behind you (so children won’t focus on those).
6. Introduce yourself to the group!
7. Welcome your students (sing a hello song or ask each child to say their name).
8. Explain what you’ll be doing (“Today I’ll read you a story about…then I have a song for you, and last we’ll do…”).
9. Stories should be age appropriate and told with enthusiasm.
10. Choose songs that children already know first (ABC’s, Old MacDonald, etc).
11. After they are comfortable, you can teach them new songs.
12. Sing a new song or finger play at least twice; it’s more fun when they know the words and memorizing songs is great for building vocabulary skills.
13. Walk the children through a finger play slowly the first time around, then sing it.
14. Keep any music close and “paused” on the tune you plan to use (so the kids aren’t waiting for you to find the song).
15. Exaggerate movements during your dance so children are encouraged to participate.
16. Alternate sitting and movement activities to keep the children interested.
17. Call on children that seem to be losing focus (Ask, “Who is the boy in the story?”, “What kind of pie is he eating?”, etc).
18. During your circle time ALWAYS compliment the children on how well they are doing by using specific words such as, “I really like the way you moved your arms to that song!”
19. End your circle time with a good-bye song and thank them for joining you.
20. Dismiss your circle time a few children at a time (Friends that are wearing red, Friends whose names start with letter A and so on).