Our Day
Centers are child-led, not teacher-directed. We have 6 different centers that each child will visit by the end of the week.. Children learn to regulate the centers themselves through problem solving. Most of the materials are open-ended, and the children creatively decide how to use them. The centers are based on the current theme in the curriculum. Centers are usually changed weekly.
Circle time is large group time. It consists of introducing and reinforcing the theme and concepts for the week. We do the calendar, story, music, games, and class discussions. We talk about what the children are interested in and what they would like to share with everyone. We work on taking turns and participation.
Special Activity time is when the children are at the tables doing an art or science activity. It consists of small group time with the high school teachers leading the project. We work on fine motor skills during this time. The project is based on the weekly theme.
Snack
The children all wash their hands before snack time. We are using a cycle menu for the snack. Every month the snack schedule will repeat itself, with no single snack being repeated in a month. We also use this time to work on language skills. It is a very social time.
We have large motor exercise every day. The children go outside almost every day. We play on the playground equipment, bike, sand box, and grass activities. We may take out the gym balls, bean bags, sleds or parachutes. On the days that the children cannot go outside, we play large motor games inside.
Story time is lead by the high school teachers. Each small group is read a story based on the concept or theme by the teacher. After the story, the children will play a game that reinforces the concept of the week. The games are made by the high school teachers. Every child participates in the activity.