Daily Routine
- 7 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. - Arrival and Free Choice - Free choice time allows children time to adjust to the school situation.Teachers may have special activities ready for additional choices.
- 8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m. - Helpers Circle - Children are chosen to be a helper during the day (i.e. lunch helper, snack helper, fish feeder, etc.)
- 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Family Style Breakfast - Children practice language skills, manners (passing, sharing), social skills (turn taking), and motor skills (use of cup and utensils). Good nutrition is emphasized.
- 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. - Circle - The large group participates in learning activities such as singing, movement, stories, finger plays, games, and dramatics.
- 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.- Preschool Academic Time - Children interact with materials in the classroom, reinforcing pre-academic and readiness skills through play with other children and adults. Opportunities for exploration, problem solving, and social interactions are provided through many materials and interactions throughout areas of the classroom.
- 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - Gross Motor - Children experience a choice of outdoor, classroom, or gym activities that emphasize climbing, manipulating toys, riding trikes, running, social interactions, and walking.
- 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Transition and Family Style Lunch - Children assist in setting up for lunch. During lunch, children work on reinforcement of social, language and motor skills, and nutrition enrichment.
- 12:15 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Transition - Children and Teachers clean up lunch and prepare for nap. Children enrolled for half days are dismissed.
- 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Rest Time - Children are put to sleep and can nap for two hours, for those who wake up early, a wake up room is provided from 2 p.m to 3 p.m.
- 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Snack time - During snack, children work on reinforcement of social, language, and motor skills, and nutrition enrichment.
- 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Afternoon Work Time - Children participate in group activities indoors or outdoors and prepare for departure.
This schedule shows the periods of developmentally appropriate activities throughout the child’s day. A great deal of significant learning occurs as adults attend to the progress and interests of each child. Giving words of encouragement, sharing a child’s feeling of success, and using other naturally reinforcing events in the environment also enhances the child’s learning experiences as they interact with the materials, activities, and resources available in the classroom. Throughout the day and during transitions, children practice taking care of their own needs (i.e. toileting, hand washing, and dressing) with the guidance and support of teaching staff.