Professional Development and Community School Leaders and Administration Whole School
A closing circle is a positive, structured way to bring closure to the school day. It takes just a few minutes and is a time for students to reflect and celebrate what they have done in school that day.
What exactly do children do in a closing circle? They may sing a song, think about an accomplishment, set a personal goal for the following day, play a game, or send a friendly goodbye around the circle. The choice depends on the children’s developmental abilities, your personal style, and—importantly—on the kind of day the class had. The common thread that runs through all closing circle activities is their focus on the positive.
Maître d’ is a closing circle activity idea you can do with K-6 students that helps them practice voicing an opinion and, for younger students, counting. It’s from Closing Circles: 50 Activities for Ending the Day in a Positive Way, a book that I co-authored with Dana Januszka. Here’s how to do it: