It is a re-establishment of the group, an important joining together into a class. The teacher says an incomplete sentence, gives an example to finish it off, then the child next to her repeats the phrase and puts his or her own ending on it' Even in a large class the level of listening to others is clearly high. Some enjoy the chance to be really imaginative and direct in their answers. Sensitive teachers will hear these and respond appropriately later. For the children, self-disclosure in these rounds by the teacher is valuable too.
Rounds also help the retiring child to feel included.
At the beginning of the term lots of activities are centred on getting to know each other and on the creation of a close warm class identity. After registration and the opportunity to share with everyone anything that has happened during the time children have been apart, comes the selection of the Special Child for the day. This is universally popular with the children and I would guess for many of them is an unusual experience. Selection was first made by balloon popping. Balloons were blown up, each child put her name on paper inside one, and they were hung from the ceiling.