Review of the Woodland Elementary Class meetings

I asked the question: What has been working with the class meetings? People went around and shared their experiences

- It has been a wonderful opportunity for the quieter kids.

- Every student is starting to feel valued.

- I feel I know my kids a lot better than ever before.

- I feel the kids know each other better as well.

- I am thrilled that the world is getting turned on to circles. We’ve been doing them for years in Kindergarten.

- I have been able to effectively deal with the Packer/Viking rivalry.

- When they tell how they were feeling when they got hurt others have a new level of compassion.

- Tattling has been reduced tremendously. They save it for the circle.

- When they need to get their work done I am not the “boss” they tell and encourage each other.

- The principal shared that a 2^nd and 3^rd grader got into a fight and were sent to the office. They ran the conversation. One shared what they did and how they felt and the other shared what they did and how they felt. Then they came up with three possible solutions and agreed to try them. It was wonderful.

- There seems to be more kindness. We are working on generating positive comments about each other instead of catching each other doing things that are based in the negative. They are looking for things to use in the circle during the compliment sessions.

- It is building community between the kids.

- The kids have been developing awareness and empathy for each other.

- When we have an issue between two students they have to go to the peace rug to get it solved. If they can’t get it resolved on their own that way, then they can bring it to the class to resolve the issue.

We went around and asked what issues or problems do you have if any? After getting the problems out we brainstormed solutions.

These were the problems:

- I need help having the kids generate the issues.

- I have a hard time having the kids ask for compliments. It seems rude and not OK culturally to do that.

- I am having trouble finding a good block of time to hold the circle with pull-out students going.

- I would like to observe someone doing their circle.

- Once we get going it is hard to stop it.