GD in group setting - Need ideas!

[Patchfire]

I am a leader of a Daisy Girl Scout troop. Nine little five year olds who meet twice a month. We meet at 4 pm, so they have over an hour (gee) after being at school from around 8 until about 2:20, except for two. Mine is homeschooled, and another girl is in a private, half-day kindergarten. The other seven girls come from two different elementary schools. Some of them know each other at school, others don't.

Add to this, four of the girls have had new siblings born in the last eight months!

There are a lot of extraneous stressors on these girls, is my point, and a lot of their behavior is obviously influenced by this. One girl, for instance, interrupts constantly - but she has both an older sister and a 3 month old baby brother.

Still, I need suggestions on how to 'manage' the group a bit better. I find myself floundering when it comes to way to facilitate discussion, and to help them respect each other (by not interrupting, not screaming, etc.). I am also of the opinion that unless they ask for intervention, or someone's getting really hurt, I'm not going to interfere if they're talking amonst themselves. (Case in point: Today, one girl told my daughter she must go to a 'boy school.' My dd repeats, ever more insistent, that she's homeschooled and it's 'the truth!' Eventually she's quite loud and the original girl says sorry, but don't yell at me, and someone else says 'yeah, yelling hurts my ears.' They're all quiet for a moment, then my dd starts a new conversation. I don't see how interfering would have helped.) Sometimes, though, we're in the Daisy Circle and they need to be respectful.

We do have a snack, and we try to plan at least one 'full-body activity.' But I need more ideas than just other ways to try to prevent!

[sapphire_chan]

Do an exercise with the girls about ideas for maintaining respect in the Daisy Circle. I'm guessing there's some sort of scouting literature on the circle? Read that to them and ask them questions like:

How do you feel when people don't listen?
What can you do to be a better listener?
How can we make sure everyone gets a turn?
What type of voice is best for talking? When do we shout? Whisper?

Maybe use something like a "talking stick" to help them practice taking turns.

[Patchfire]

Ah, there's the rub...

We attempted to have just such a discussion yesterday. They're very good at articulating the 'right' answer, but, at least ATM, there is very little follow-through.

I'll have to figure out some kind of talking stick, thanks!

[sunnysideup]

The best Girl Scout meetings I've seen were ones where the leader planned lots of short activities, alternating sit down sctivities with a game where the girls could get up and move, and sing songs so they can have an oportunity to be loud if they need to get that out. One idea for helping the girls take turns with discussion-- sit in circle on the floor, have a squishy ball that you hold when it is your turn to talk, then pass or toss the ball to the next person.

[LaughingHyena]

I run a group for 6 -9 year olds, I can definalty relate. I always try to have a few more activities/games planned that I think I'll need. That way if an activity isn't working it's easy to change to a new one. We always try to involve the children in choosing the activity, eg we'll ask quiet game or running game and then give a couple of options for each to choose from.

As soon as I have the attention of most of the group try and start the next activitiy.

Talking stick (actually we made a dream catcher type thing, each child decorated a strip of fabric with thier name on and wove it into the web. As new children joined the group we added thier names).

Silent signal, as soon as you see one of the leaders with thier hands on thier head you must do the same and remain silent (it always took my group ages to notice but others say it's worked for them)

Try running an activity in complete silence, can the children arrange themselves in height order or put together a jigsaw as a group without talking.

Sing the noise out, sing a really loud song, preferably one that gets louder as it goes along. When the song as finished you get a brief quiet period to introduce the next activity.

For me it always helps to keep in mind that the group shoudl be fun, so long as the children are enjoying themselves it doesn't matter if it's not doing what I planned. It can be hard when you;'e put time into planning an activity and the children just don't want to do it.