View Content #20073

From http://blog.tesol.org

If you are working with young English learners, chances are you are using a portion of your class for what is known in the United States as “circle time”—a time when learners typically sit on the floor instead of their desks so they are in close proximity with the teacher, and the teacher then conducts a read-aloud of a class book and/or reviews student names, the weather, class jobs, and so on.

…For ELLs, though, circle time may present listening or conversation fatigue, when ELLs are trying hard to listen and process the language but soon fall behind as their teacher and peers continue reading out loud and answering text-related questions. If ELLs are not able to keep up with the story, their attention may drift and they may disengage, either acting bored or sleepy, or fidgeting and distracting others.

Read about some adaptations you can use during circle time for your English language learners: http://blog.tesol.org/elt-in-early-childhood-circle-time/