🌱 5 Circle Time Routines to Build Calm & Connection in Your Classroom

vanessa speigle
11 hours ago
3 min read

Before we dive into the practical steps, let’s talk about the why.

I’ve shared the stories and research in this week’s

Reflections podcast 🎙 Why Circles Work: Building Trust & Calm from Day 1.

👉 It’s just 15 minutes — feel free to pause your reading and listen first. You’ll hear real classroom examples and tried-and-true research about why circles matter so much for well-being and learning.

Listening first will help you feel grounded in the purpose behind circle time, and give you the language to explain the change to your students and even to parents who may wonder about a new routine.

Screenshot of a Spotify podcast episode titled “Why Circles Work: Building Calm and Trust from Day 1” from Rekla Reflections. The play bar shows a 12-minute 58-second episode with a description preview beneath.

[🎧 Listen to the podcast here → Podcast

Once you’re ready, let’s move into the how: five step-by-step circle time routines you can start using tomorrow.

🪑 Step 1: Choose Your Moment

Circle time doesn’t have to take over your day. Pick one moment where it fits naturally:

Morning Entry → Set the tone before lessons begin.
After Lunch → Reset energy and calm down transitions.
End of Day → Close with reflection and send students home positively.

Consistency matters more than length. Even 5–10 minutes makes a difference.

🌱 Step 2: Start Small with Check-Ins

Begin with the simplest routine:

“One word for how you’re feeling today.”

Go around the circle once. No commentary, no debate. It builds emotional awareness and normalizes listening.

✍️ Step 3: Co-Create Agreements

Illustration of smiling children sitting on the floor around a large poster that reads “Our Class Agreement.” They are decorating the poster with colorful drawings and symbols, showing collaboration and ownership.

Instead of posting rules, invite students to create 3–5 circle agreements:

Listen with respect.
Only speak when holding the talking piece.
Encourage quiet voices to be heard.

This ownership makes students more likely to protect the calm you’re building.

🔄 Step 4: Expand Slowly with Routines

Illustration of a group of children sitting in a circle at desks, facing each other and talking. The arrangement emphasizes connection and communication.

Once the basics are in place, add other circle activities throughout the week:

Talking Piece 🪶 → One voice at a time, using a simple object.
Calm Reset ⏳ → Gather in a circle, breathe three times, and restart after noisy transitions.
Gratitude Circle 🌸 → Share one thing you’re thankful for.
Learning Reflection 📖 → “One strategy that helped me today.”
Celebration 🎉 → End the week with each student naming a success.

These don’t need to be long — 3–10 minutes is enough to shift the climate.

🔍 Step 5: Reflect & Adjust

Ask students:

“What do you like about circle time so far?”
“What could make it better?”

When students help shape the circle, they protect its purpose.

🎁 Want Help Getting Started?

I’ve created the Circle Time Conversations Bundle to make this easy. Inside you’ll find:

✅ A step-by-step guide for adding circles into your day

✅ 10+ Circle Time Cards (printables you can use tomorrow)

✅ Large group adaptations for crowded classrooms

👉 Circle Time Bundle here

And don’t miss this week’s podcast episode where I share the stories and research behind circles:🎙 Why Circles Work: Building Trust & Calm from Day 1 → Podcast

And we also have many other lesson bundles to support your teaching journey already in the store for you to check out. Rekla Store

🌱 Rekla Reflection Question

Which circle routine could you start with this week to bring more calm and connection into your classroom?

Start a collaborative conversation in the chat and share what circle routine you use that is effective for your students! I'd love to hear other teachers ideas. Thanks for sharing.

🌱 5 Circle Time Routines to Build Calm & Connection in Your Classroom