- Welcome to School—We will start our day by walking to the classroom together from the drop-off area and hanging up backpacks and removing shoes. We will come together at the rug to share in some music and movement to kick off our morning meeting—a gathering time where we will welcome each student individually with a fun song, stretch our bodies with a short yoga routine, repeat growth-mindset affirmations, and review our plans for the day.
- Let’s Get Learning—Following the morning meeting, students will have a minimum of 1 hour for self-directed play. Offerings during free play will include blocks, dramatic play/housekeeping, art, STEM, sensory activities, loose parts, and cooking/snack preparation. Children will be free to choose where and for how long they would like to play in each area. It is during this time that many social and interpersonal skills will be learned, with the teacher guiding the organic academic learning taking place. This portion of our day will be flexible and fluid, based off of the engagement of the children.
- Healthy Eating—As free play draws to a close, snack will be offered to children who are interested. We strive to provide healthy snacks that encourage kids to “eat the rainbow”. Children will not be forced to eat anything they are not interested in, but eating among peers can serve as a great motivator for students who are otherwise picky eaters! Children will have ample opportunity to participate in the preparation of their snacks, which is a time when many math and science observations will be made.
- Rest & Read—We will settle down after snack for story time. Children are encouraged to find a comfortable place to sit or lie down and enjoy looking at books of their own choosing, followed by group story time, where we will explore a wide variety of picture books over the course of the year, along with an occasional short chapter book read over several days. We will also use this time to learn and act out nursery rhymes, which are a foundational part of many early literacy and language skills.
- The Great Outdoors—With our minds and bodies rested and fueled with healthy food, we’ll head into our outdoor space for some gross motor movement and imaginative play. Children will be able enjoy the outdoor playhouse and mud kitchen, splash in puddles on rainy days, and make snow angels when the ground is covered in white. They will have the opportunity to harvest from the garden in the fall and plant in the spring. We will participate in group games and focus on growing and stretching our large muscles. As long as it is safe to do so, time will be spent outdoors even in inclement weather—think of all the wonderful things we enjoy during and after a rainstorm that we would otherwise miss if we only went outside when the sun was shining!
- Wrap It Up—Our day will conclude with a closing meeting, where we can review how our day went, discuss any interactions with peers that children need help with, and repeat our growth-mindset affirmations. Following our closing meeting, we will load up our backpacks and walk to the pickup area to meet our grown-ups.