Teresa Bliss – författare

Written for the busy classroom teacher, this book provides quick access to an abundance of Circle Time activities.

Building on the success of the first edition, this new book retains the original edition's clarity and ease-of-access, whilst providing more than twice as much material. It has also been updated to take account of new legislation, including Every Child Matters and The National Standard for Healthy Schools.

Clear headers guide the reader to core games and appropriate themes, each with helpful hints for planning and implementation, and to assist the smooth running of the sessions. The theme section demonstrates ways of using core Circle Time activities such as 'Sentence Completion' and 'Silent Statements' to explore sensitive issues such as friendships and bullying.

An important new feature is a structure to help readers understand what they should be expecting from pupils during Circle Time at each key stage. New and expanded sections on group work and the development of Circle Time are also included.

This is a valuable resource for teachers, educational psychologists and youth workers, whether they are experienced Circle Time practitioners or new to the technique.

Teresa has produced this book for parents. It reflects her experience and wisdom and translates them into a readable and enjoyable handbook for parents who seek advice and knowledge about bringing up children. Schools might buy this book to lend to parents, confident that it will provide the support they need.

Topics covered include:

" parenting styles

" spoiling

" sibling rivalry

" listening

" bad behaviour

" praise

" discipline

" smacking

" bad language

" difficulties for parents

" serious misbehaviours.

`As a teacher who has specialized in supporting "at risk" students I believe the use of Circle Time can be of help bridge the academic/ral divide. The authors, quite rightly, emphasise the Circle Times in not an advice sympathy or therapy group and they also write "pupils who have a positive view themselves are likely to achieve more, both socially and academically, than those pupils whose self-esteem in low' - Simon Wheeler, Suffolk LEA Pupil Behaviour Project Officer

Teresa Bliss and George Robinson explore the impact that Circle Time can have on the development of social behaviours, ethics and morality. Many new activities are added to the original repertoire.

The book includes:

" a link between Circle Time and the teaching of the moral and spiritual curriculum

" a plan for a terms developmental work

" ways in which issues starting outside the circle can be supported within the security of an already established circle group

" worksheets to increase the range of activities.

This book is the answer to teachers who ask for more ideas to extend the Circle Time programme.