9:00 – 9: 30                                                                       

Arrival

Students arrive with grownups; hang personal items, remove shoes, and wash hands together. Hand washing is a hygiene skill that is encouraged by teachers and practiced/modeled by parents each time they arrive. Teachers greet each family personally and ask how they’re doing or how their previous evening was. This time is for adults to share, communicate concerns, or ask questions. It is important that families have the support and information they need to encourage their children’s learning and development. Most importantly, children are welcomed graciously to make leaving parents less challenging and learning in a school setting desirable.

9:30 – 10:00                                                 

Invitation

Free Play, Perceptual activities, Fine Motor, Language/Literacy

Before engaging in an invitation to learn, children will sign in to exercise name recognition.

Each day, our teachers provide provocations within and outside the children's project work. Using the environment as the third teacher, thoughtful and engaging provocations are set up for the children to explore a variety of disciplines. Our Reggio-inspired children will learn within a framework of structure that is carefully planned to allow plenty of time for authentic learning and play. If children need more time to explore, our teachers provide it.

10:00 – 10:30                                  

Morning Meeting

Math, Health/Safety, Nutrition

Children will recognize days of the week, months of the year, and seasons. Children will practice counting and identifying letters. Children will recognize the values of rules and discuss health/safety and nutrition. Children will explore characters, settings, and other cultures through stories read by teachers and each other. Children will participate in large group discussions; learn to take turns and to listen to others in a meaningful setting.

10:30 – 11:00

Centers

For center time, the children are first asked to spell their names to receive a ticket. The ticket is theirs to check into a center of their choosing. They can pick from Loose Parts, Library, Dramatic Play, Science, Small World, Social Studies, Blocks, or the Light Table.

11:00 – 11:45

Music Together

Expressive Art, Social Studies, Gross Motor

Children are invited to partake in music class led by a trained Music Together specialist to include playful, developmentally appropriate music and movement activities. Pitched in just the right range for children's voices, there are a mix of original songs and traditional tunes in a variety of genres. Children will develop music competence, which opens the door to a lifetime of music participation.

11:45 – 12:15                                                                       

Lesson

A story is chosen based on the current interest shown by the children. If they are interested in caterpillars, for example, the teacher choses a book focused on the butterfly life cycle. As interest builds, setting the environment up to inspire play follows it. A teacher would set up a table filled with grass, dirt, toy caterpillars, and butterflies to stimulate that curiosity.

12:15 – 12:45

Lunch

Lunch boxes are brought daily by each child. Each lunch box is opened by the teacher and served on a plate. The children are asked to wait for everyone to be served before eating, so everyone can eat together. While eating together, positive discussions are encouraged.

12:45 – 1:00

Story

Each morning, we pick a Librarian. The student librarian chooses a book for the teacher to read.

1:00 – 2:00

Outdoor Classroom

Gross Motor, Health/Safety, Science, Free Play

In our Certified Nature Explore Classroom, children participate in dynamic, nature-based play and learning spaces. Children will express themselves through outdoor art activities, such as painting and sculpting. Children will join in various forms of exercise, including climbing, digging, and building. Children will recognize the importance of taking care of plants and growing food by rooting and watering our gardens.

2:00 – 2:45

Project Based Learning/Writing

Perceptual Activities, Expressive Art, Science

Children will work cooperatively with small or whole group to expand on projects, while our teachers balance supportive and directive roles in each child’s learning. Through projects based learning, children will express their creativity through art and writing. Children will classify objects, identify patterns, and have the opportunity to use books for inspiration and independent reading. Children are encouraged to continue on a specific project for many days, weeks, or even months to fully explore their topic of interest.

2:45 – 3:00               

Quiet Play/Departure 

While children gather personal items and wait for parents, children will be given the chance to practice fine motor skills, such as lacing beads, building puzzles, and sorting. As grownups arrive, children will be encouraged to share and discuss their learning as parents gaze at documentation on wall panels, work samples in portfolios, and on our classroom digital frame.