Kimberly Bastien
Circle Time at Cornerstone Daycare Center
Circle Time at Cornerstone Day Care Center, is a fun exciting time of gathering, full of surprises.
The children are usually filled with lots of energy. This is often great, as it adds to our
discussions and story times. In our Early Learn Classroom, we have circle time at least twice a
day, once in the beginning of the day and then a second time at the end of the day to say
goodbye. During our morning circle time, we sing good morning to one another, talk about the
day and weather, the schedule, and we discuss what we will be doing for the day. We also use
part of this time to play games and for movement such as shake the sillies out. This is one of my
favorite things to do. I love being silly, this time provides me with the space to be silly and have
fun with my kids. They love watching me make silly poses, do silly dances, and go all out crazy.
Sometimes they even look at me as though I have two heads. But soon enough they join me in
being silly!
Our Circle Time at Cornerstone daycare center is one of the great ways we can teach children
new skills- social skills, emotional skills, and language skills. In the beginning of the year many
of the children don’t yet know how to share, self regulate, or be away from their parents for long
periods of time. Over the period of the year these children are with us, they begin to learn how to
communicate, how to share, become more independent. They learn that they are safe, their
parents will come back for them, and that it is OK to play and have fun. The children overtime
gain our trust, which I find to be very important in their growth.
During circle time, we read stories. This is one of our favorite activities during circle time. The
children love reading. During this time, there are some children who though love story time,
have a hard time sitting still. There are a few other children that get distracted and like to talk to
their friends. Teachers have to redirect children to focus on the story at hand. Sometimes
teachers have to separate children because they are talking a little too much during and not
paying attention to the story. There are times when children also get so excited about the story,
they start shouting when teachers ask them questions. However, more often than not, most of the
children are engaged in the story, their little faces filled with interest.
It is such a pleasure working with children. I love watching the children in my class grow and
gain the skills to better socialize with those around them, the vocabulary to communicate, how to
self regulate, and more. Children are so inspiring and full of great potential. With the right
people in their lives helping and encouraging them, there is nothing they can not do. It is such a
privilege to work with them. It is not only I who teach them, they teach me also
