I teach as part of a large Reception team. We have over 90 children across three classes. Obviously the children in Reception tend to "play" quite a lot anyway and we are struggling to think of ideas for Golden Time that will be a positive reward.
While I'm here I thought I'd tell you that there is a new book out called "Better Behaviour Through Golden Time" (available on this site) in it there is a chapter of ideas on how to run Golden Time for Early Years children. Basically, you could have a bit chart on your wall under the title Golden Time where you write all their favourite party games, songs, parachute games, music to dance to etc and then you put up on the wall when its time - "GOLDEN TIME" and whatever you do during this period before you take it down will appear golden to the younger ones!
Anyway, do borrow the book from your library if its too expensive, as there are lots of ideas to stop Golden Time from getting rusty.
Hi, I am a teaching assistant in north yorkshire studying for my early childhood studies degree. I would like to do my research project on the better behaviour through golden time. My school is going to incorporate this into our school environment. Is there any previous research on this that i can easily get hold of, and any ideas for a research question linked to this and children's views??? ali
Hi. If you have any ideas on how to bring round a class that has developed a reputation, I would be grateful for any input. We are thinking of trying the traffic light system linking in with their golden time for all of Y2 (i.e. not single out the class with the problem). Each child starts the day on the green light and depending on the number of times they get moved onto the red light they will miss their golden time on a Friday afternoon. Have you heard of this system? Very similar to the sun / sun and cloud / cloud where names are moved across for poor behaviour? Has anyone got any ideas of input for me please?
In answer to the Golden Time question above, Ali, I hope you have received some input from the JMC office. There has not been much formal research into Golden Time although it has been tried and tested in many, many settings. I hope you have recieved a Bristol Uni reference for a research project already.
For research questions linking Golden Time and children's views, tricky one, these are just off the top of my head:
"How does children's perception of Golden Time impact upon the status that they give it?" "What would children's ideal Golden Time look like and how can we make Golden Time as near to this ideal as possible?" "What are the most effective ways to link the Golden Rules to Golden Time?"
Its not that easy, is it! If I think of any more I'll post them on. Good luck for now, Zara
I hope by now you have received 'our Better Behavior Through Golden Time' book. If you look in that book (p.23) there's a tiny contribution from Ian Read, Birley Spar Community Primary School. They did research into what children enjoyed most about coming to their school. 71% wrote that one of the things they most enjoyed was 'Golden Time'. I think that you could do a very good simple piece of research. Ask for a think storm from lots of children in different classes for 'things that children might enjoy in our school', turn it into a questionnaire, get children to go around and interview each other and turn their answers into clearly understandable graphs. There is very little research on Golden Time. In 1997, 292 primary schools in Wiltshire and Swindon were surveyed about 'Circle Time'. I went to have a quick look at it but they didn't look at 'Golden Time' at all. The area is ripe for research. It would be wonderful if you could go ahead and do some and post it onto our website. Good luck and keep in contact with us all, Jenny Mosley
Your idea of doing Golden Time- and the above book Better Behaviour Through Golden Time will be helpful to you - is a good one. The reason why is because once you start to keep a log (quietly in your drawer) you will see that in fact it's not the whole class who are naughty it is just 5 or 6 emotionally needy children. I feel so sorry for the 'middle plodder' children who represent the majority of the class, and are constantly nagged and told off because of the challenging needs of a few.
You are absolutely right to be concerned about this. One helpful tip is to create something called 'Our Good News Book'. You get a big scrap book, cover it with gold paper and, everyday, focus on all the positive things that the class has achieved. Some schools have good news letter boxes. All staff and support staff are issued with cheap 'good news notelets', if anyone spots a class behaving well, or individuals behaving well, a little note is popped into the good news post box. These are read out after lunch, everyone claps and then they are stuck into the 'Golden Book'. If anyone says anything positive about each other (as long as it's not just about their best friend) in circle time - these are then recorded and also good to write speech bubbles and are pasted into The Book. Photos of your class keeping the Golden Rules are also pasted in. In this way you build up the reputation of your class. Whenever they have a bad day and everyone is moaning about them, you stop everything and say "Let's go back to a time when we all got on with one another" -and outcomes the Good News Book!!! Good Luck Jenny Mosley
Hello! I'm a huge fan of Circle Time and Golden Time. However, I did some supply for my new school in July and was horrified to find that they don't agree with Golden Time because they see it as a waste of curriculum time. I tried to discuss it briefly but to no avail. The worse part of the situation is that the school have some really serious behaviour problems and I am about to teach their Year 6 who are totally out of control. The children don't care about anyone or anything and I think Golden Time would be perfect for them. How do I go about trying to explain the benefits of it to a very ‘stuck in her ways’ Headteacher?
I am also studying for my Early Childhood Studies degree and would like to do my dissertation around Golden Time - still struggling with my research question. At the moment I am reading "Better Behaviour through Golden Time" which is very helpful but I also need to find more for my literature review ie, books, jounals, internet & previous research. Can any body help? Thanks.
Hi, Much like the person above i am too in third year of degree, ed and Early childhood studies - for an independent study I have chosen the motivation aspects of golden time and would be very grateful of any further information about this subject. if any one has any comments/info all would be gratefully received.
Hi, I see the last comment was a while ago but if anyone is ble to help it would be appreciated. I, like Delyse am doing an independant research project for my foundation degree and am looking at the motivational aspects of golden time as a behaviour managment method!! Research and reports seem hard to come by if anyone has any suggestions or knowledge on this it would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks Joanne