On the first day of school I got on the bus and everyone was talking about how we have to sit in a circle every morning. Of course, everyone reacted negatively. I wanted to know why we had to do this. It felt like they were treating us like babies. Then once we started, I realized this was going to help everyone. We would each get our own spotlight time, and everyone would be able to talk. We felt more in control, and we were learning responsibility and social skills.

This circle was called Circle of Power and Respect, or CPR. We all sit in a circle, and first we greet the people around us. We learn to say “Good morning” in other languages. After our greetings we have a quick share. The quick share involves answering a question, like, “If you could go back in time, what historical figure would you want to meet?” Answers to questions like these get information nobody knows about each other out in the open in a safe way. Finally, to close the circle, we do an activity, like “Is This Seat Taken,” in which we get to sneak around, swapping chairs while trying not to get caught.

Games are fun, but we don’t use the circle just for fun; we use it for academics, too. In my English class, for example, we circle up to hold book discussions. Ms. Erickson, my English teacher, says our greatest discussions happen when we sit in a circle. I believe the circle has helped me improve in academics so much! I pay attention better. My grades went from all C’s to A’s and B’s last term!

In the circle we are also taught how to show respect to our peers, teachers, and parents: when someone else is speaking we do not talk; we maintain eye contact and we always listen.

If we break any of these rules, either we choose to T.A.B., which means Take a Break, or the teacher gives us a signal to go to the T.A.B station. In T.A.B, we sit in a chair and think about what we did, why we did it, and what we will do to change it. We only stay there for about 30 seconds. Everything CPR teaches us will help us in the future.

CPR has built up many students’ self-esteem as it helps us to become social. It’s a time when we talk to people other than our own friends and learn something new about someone else. Being social is hard for some people, and with CPR, people can make new friends without being judged. Anyone can do it, so why not you?!


Dayna Alcott is a student at Olson Middle School, Tabernacle NJ

This article first appeared in Origins' Special Student Issue, Spring 2008