Vicki has been a teacher for 33 years and takes a friend to school with her. Every now and then she will send us a video of her furry friend in the classroom with her, so we decided to ask her about how Cyril helps her in the classroom.
I have used Cyril the squirrel throughout the entirety of my teaching career. That was 33 years ago and came about really by chance as I had a child in a year 1 class that was reluctant to engage as she was scared to make mistakes due to her low self-esteem and also issues at home. I initially used him on a 1-1 with the child and deliberately made him “help” her with the task at hand but of course he got it wrong! She then confidently was able to share her own understanding in a non-threatening way with a teddy squirrel!
This was such a success that the other children wanted him to help them. I think it helped that he has a very silly voice and can be very comical and has LOTS of things he needs help with.
As well as helping with general learning he has also been a godsend with regard to managing behavioural issues. When I introduce him to the children, I always say that he likes to sit with those that are making the right choices and showing the correct learning behaviours. This has engaged those children who struggled to sit on the carpet and take part in group or class activities.
Cyril likes to sit on their laps and of course, what child wouldn’t want to sit on the carpet with a squirrel on their lap?
If the classroom noise level rises, all I have to do (using Cyril’s voice) is say that he is getting a headache and this immediately makes the classroom environment quieter.
I have used him up to the age of eight with Y3 classes but after that it is not really viable as they are not as believing that he is real!
I also make a point of saying that we need to keep a lookout for him after we come back from playtime as he likes to climb and we never know where we might find him! This really encourages the children to come back into the classroom after playtime and also refocuses their attention if there have been any disagreements over the play time. There are always non-believers but when they say to me “is he real?” I say to them… “Have you seen the film Toy Story?”
Cyril loves every subject!
Maths- Cyril loves to blast off and head butt a 100 square to generate 2 digit numbers. With EYFS and key stage 1 he will count to 10 and get the numbers wrong which then encourages them to show him how to count correctly.
Phonics- Cyril will use his knowledge of phonics to spell words phonetically and this encourages the children then to correct him to direct him towards the correct digraphs and trigraphs and phonemes. As an introduction to phonics lessons he will often sing the alphabet song and get this wrong as well. Silly Cyril!
In my teaching career I have got through quite a lot of Cyrils as I used to give him away at the end of the year to a child that would benefit from him, for example those that were struggling at home or struggling with their learning or with their friendships and were particularly lonely. This has meant that I have bought over 30 teddy squirrels in my teaching career. I was in a pub the other day when some parents came over to me and said “have you still got Cyril the squirrel?” These were parents of a child I had taught 15 years ago and had actually gifted the squirrel to. They told me that she still had it on her bed and has never let him go. When I had my own class I also used to let the children take him home for the weekend and they kept a weekend diary about his antics and this was a way to encourage the children to write.
Lots of people probably think that I’m bonkers but I wouldn’t be without him. I was once videoed using him as a teaching tool. These videos were used at Derby University to show people who were on the teacher training course how props and puppets and teddies can be used as a way of teaching to engage the children.
You have to be prepared to look a bit daft to use this approach but it is so powerful, so take a chance and try it yourself!
Cyril the Squirrel is owned by Vicki Chapman. Blog written by Jo Gotheridge 8 .10.25
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