A Circle-Based Pedagogy

A school that embraces circle practice honors all stakeholders—students, staff, parents/caregivers, and community members—deepens understanding of content, increases empathy and collaboration, and addresses the evolving needs of the school community.

A circle-based pedagogy begins with the validation of all stakeholders’ lived-experience and views collaboration as the prime driver of what we call “knowledge.” When we share our experiences, our stories, in circle, this creates a foundation of relevance upon which deep understanding of content in all disciplines evolves. Too often, in our schools, knowledge is treated as a commodity. Some acquire it, some don’t. What Paulo Freire called the “banking model” of education is responsible for much of the alienation we see among students, staff, and parents/caregivers. Circles mitigate against alienation, isolation, and limited perspectives. In doing so, circle practice creates infrastructures for creative collaboration.

How do we move education from an individualistic to a collaborative model? Physicist Neils Bohr says, “All science is observation and conversation.” Ancient, pan-cultural, structured, dialogic practices—circles—offer what is missing in traditional pedagogy. When a school, organization, or family embraces circle practice, social-emotional needs and self-regulation are the byproducts of deeper understanding—of content, of each other, and the natural world.