Curtailing “Chatty Patty” at Circle Time
Have you ever noticed how some kids want to use the morning circle time as their personal platform to talk about anything and everything imaginable.
As an educator, you are in the business of being open and responsive to the children you teach and you really do want to hear their thoughts and ideas but sometimes you just have to move on with your day.
A creative way to solve the “Chatty Patty” issue is a talking jar. It works like this:
1. Gather a collection of colorful foam shapes, letters and numbers.
2. Get a clear jar or container that is large enough to set safely on the floor in the middle of your circle area where everyone is able to see it. Be sure to choose a jar that is made a safe material such as plastic in the event it gets knocked over.
3. Label the jar with the words “Talking Jar”. (I suggest the labeling not because it has an effect on the technique but because I labeled everything when I was a preschool/ primary grade teacher. Every little bit of reinforcement you can squeeze in with regard to pre-reading skills is hugely beneficial and we all know a print rich environment is key.)
4. In the morning as each child enters the room and makes their way to the circle area, hand them one brightly colored foam shape/letter/number. The shape will be traded in for the opportunity to talk or tell a story or share a thought during circle time. Children do not have to hand in their foam shape if they are responding directly to questions you have asked. The shapes are for ideas they want to share above and beyond normal responses to questions.
5. When a child makes the decision that they would like to share a thought or idea, they drop their foam shape in the jar and proceed to share. Once the shape has been traded in for talking time, there is no more sharing from that particular child during that circle time.
6. If circle time comes to a close and there are children still holding their shape, they can be asked if there is anything they would like to say. If not, they are given the opportunity to give their shape to another child who has an additional thought to share. If they choose not to share their talking turn, they may simply drop their shape in the jar as they leave the circle.
The beauty of this technique is that it curtails the endless chatter of the future politician who wants to drone on and it draws attention to the children who don’t feel comfortable sharing in front of the group so that maybe you can find a way to build their confidence a bit.
Using this simple, cost effective method will keep you from having to muzzle your “Chatty Pattys”.
Rebecca Eckenrode, Early Education Teacher
Classloom Blog Writer
Originally published at blog.classloom.com on February 24, 2016.
