A Typical Day
A consistent daily routine is implemented in each classroom to help children anticipate the sequence of the daily schedule. It provides children with a sense of security to the new environment.
Sample Daily Routine:
| 9:00 - 9:15
| 9:15 - 9:30
| 9:30 - 9:50
||Small Group Time
| 9:50 - 10:40
|10:40 - 10:50
|10:50 - 11:10
|11:10 - 11:20
|11:20 - 11:30
||Large Group Time
|11:30 - 12:00
||Outside Play Time
Activities in different areas to welcome children when they first arrive at school.
Greeting and Gathering Time:
Parents help their children hang up their coats and get their name tags. Children are welcomed by the greeting teacher and say their goodbyes to parents. The circle teacher meets with the children on the rug. The leader helps to complete the message board.
Small Group and Children's Planning Time:
Our class is divided into two small groups. Teachers plan an activity to do with each group in a particular curriculum area (art, science, math, language arts). Children plan and choose an area or activity to start their learning projects (blocks, art, housekeeping, language arts, science or toy and puzzle activities).
Children choose from a variety of materials to create, build and explore. Centers include but not limited to creative art and easel experiences, language arts, dramatic play, construction with a variety of blocks, many small muscle and large muscle activities, pre-writing and reading activities, etc. The centers are process-oriented and encourage children to explore freely and follow their own ideas and creativity.
Children and staff put toys away together and wash their hands for snack.
Children meet with their teachers in small groups to review their discovery experiences and have a snack together. The leader of the day provides a healthy snack to share with the class.
Children choose books and gather on the circle rug after they finished snack. Children are encouraged to read to each other, by themselves or with a teacher. Teachers also read a story to the whole class.
Large Group Time:
Children come together to experience movement and musical activities including playing musical instruments, dramatizing songs and games. Rhythm and beat are emphasized.
Outside Play Time:
Children have the opportunity to choose areas of activities outside, weather permitting. If it is too rainy or cold we will play indoors.
Only parents or authorized adult pick up the children. Some families may find car-pooling works well.
We plan each day with a good balance of activities that are sensitive to the needs of the children. The actual amount of time spent on each part of the session varies with the group, the weather and other factors play into this. In the fall and spring, we spend more time on the playground. During bad weather, we may not go out at all. As attention spans and interests increase, more time may be spent at group times.
In order to communicate to parents regarding daily learning experiences in the classroom, we post the Daily Plan outside of every classroom for parents to review. It provides the daily lesson plan, what are the daily lesson objectives as well as a place for the parents to leave a note about their provided snacks.