Hi, I work in a school for children with severe learning difficulties and was lucky enough to train with jenny last october. Since coming back to school i have been training my staff and have been getting on well until now!i have to take a couple of circles which i am not feeling as confident about. I have to take a group of children on the autistic spectrum with severe communication and behaviour problems and then 3 circles with the classes with children with severe and multiple learning difficulties, generally these children have no speech and have physical disabilities aswell. HELP!! Jenny did give some ideas while on her course, but I would really like to hear from any one who has experience of doing circle time with groups like these, any ideas, games, hints etc are welcome. Thanks and I look forward to haering from anyone with some pearls of wisdom. Helen.
I have spoken to a couple of practitioners and this is a tricky one. I am still hoping someone may come forward with some more specific ideas. In the meantime, one of Jenny's senior consultants suggested in the first instance using some simple passing games or singing, signing or clapping. You would need plenty of adult support. Sensory props for the session would be good too, like music, lights and different 'feely' objects. To start with, you could also use any enjoyable classroom group activities, stories or songs that the children are familiar with, in a circle to get the children used to sitting and participating in this format.
Like I said, hopefully we will have some more creative and appropriate ideas coming in for you, in the mean time, very best of luck with starting off this work. Warm wishes Zara
(Dr Zara Niwano, Jenny Mosley Consultancies. Website, writing and research projects)
I have adapted the 5 skills into the 5 senses and made a series of sensory boxes each containing a visually interesting piece of material, an unusual sound maker, something textured, something smelly (use an old film cannister, put a piece of cotton wool in it and drip some essential oil onto it. The lid keeps the smell in. Or look up Dale Air on the internet who sell smells!!) and something to taste. I use those mini pots of jam and chutney. We explore the contents of a box at the beginning of circle time talking about what sense is being used. This has worked very well for me