Read To Learn

UNIT 3: Behaviour Management - Active Citizenship, School and Parent Engagement

Steps to take for conducting a successful Circle Meeting

Circle Meetings at Umubano Academy encourage learners to appreciate each other, listen attentively and respect everyone’s ideas, leading to a more harmonious and peaceful learning environment where everyone’s voice is heard. 

1. Introduce the topic to be discussed and encourage the sharing of different ideas. The topic must be something the learners know about, or can research before the meeting. Circle Meetings should be meaningful where all contributions are valued. 

2. Encourage learners to participate actively. If some learners choose not to contribute, the leaders of the Circle Meeting should try asking encouraging questions such as, “I wonder what you think about that, X? I wonder if you agree with what others have said? Is there anything you would like to add?"

3. If the topic is challenging or learners do not have many ideas, the teacher could ask them to discuss it with a friend or to turn to the learner next to them in the circle to try to come up with some ideas collaboratively, before sharing in the circle.

4. A Circle Meeting doesn’t need to last the full length of a lesson. Shorter meetings can be more effective. We would recommend 15-20 minutes for a Circle Meeting including a quick ice breaker or warm-up activity before starting the Circle Meeting.*

*An ice breaker or warm-up activity is a short game or song for learners to participate in during a transition, when you want to end an activity or start a new one. Some examples of ice breakers or warm-up activities are as follows: 

• Kumazi, Kunkombe
• Agatambaro k'umwana karihe?
• Musaza wanjye Yakobo