ATTENDANCE: Children attend one, two or three morning sessions per week according to availability. Sign up on the Waiting List to be notified of openings.
DAILY ROUTINE: While the order may change, here are the things we do each day:
DAILY ROUTINE: While the order of some things may change, here are the things we do each day:
Arriving at School Time: When children arrive they can drop off any of their items that they don’t want to wear or hold (jackets, backpacks, shoes, toys from home, etc) in their cubbies. New in 2024 is washing their hands before choosing something to do: each individual caring for children shall ensure each child washes that child’s hands or be assisted in washing that child’s hands when first arriving at the facility. This is a new regulation and we invite adults to help wash children’s hands as schedules and availability allow.
Work Time aka Play Time: With access to all learning areas of the classroom, this is the time of day when preschoolers play and hone the skill of making choices! Teachers are available to guide activities, play with the children and offer suggestions as needed. Some activities are always available while others change with the themes.
Project/Journal Time: this is the time of day when we create something. We ask that children come in clothes that they can get messy in believing it is important for there to be freedom to participate fully. We use lots of paint and lots of glue during the year! Our curriculum includes an Alphabet Project, guided Journal Time and extra art projects each week as well as the Project Corner that children can create from every day they come.
Circle Time: this is the time of day when we sit together and engage in conversation. Our Coping Skill of the Week is introduced here with books, songs, drawings and more. We hint towards the school skills that are found in a traditional Kindergarten classroom: calendar talk, alphabet sounds/recognition, name reading, color recognition, patterning, etc. This is also the time of day when we sing songs, recite poems and act out rhymes.
Snack Time: we use this time to relax, visit and try new foods in a safe way (at preschool children are allowed to smell, lick, taste and even gently spit out things they don’t like). We make connections to the themes of the week (“These cheerios are like the wheels from our book! We’re eating rabbit food -carrots and lettuce! The crackers are the same shape as our book! Everything is the Color of the Month! Everything starts with the Letter of the Week!…”). Families are invited to sign up on our website to bring snacks for their child’s class.
Clean Up Time: this is the time of day we get our shoes on and help put things away in the classroom. We play music and remind preschoolers that we aren’t cleaning up just what we played with, but whatever our classroom needs! Child safe wipes and brooms are offered for those who like a deep cleaning experience. After cleaning up, children are invited to gather together to read books independently. Children practice the skill of taking “picture walks” through books. Children also experience teachers reading alongside them during this restful and quiet time.
Story Time: this is the time of day when the teacher is reading to the children. Through our stories we are able to introduce new concepts while having children experience the security of being read to. Our books are chosen based on the theme of the day and are connected to the other activities of the day.
Outside Time: after teachers lovingly help get children ready with their personal belongings and any projects from preschool, we go to the playground! We spend time outside in most kinds of weather believing that a connection to nature and opportunities to use their large muscle groups is essential to a whole early childhood experience! In addition to the natural opportunities, each day there are special “Big Body” activities planned. Specifically designed for preschool aged children, examples include a variety of swings, balancing beams, wiggle boards, ride-on devices, yoga poses, bubble chasing, jumping off platforms, etc.
Going Home Time: As weather allows, we will dismiss from the playground. If we are not on the playground, we are waiting on the steps inside the building. Children must wait with teachers in the fenced playground or in the building until collected by their adult or delivered by a teacher. Preschoolers’ adults and accompanying children are welcome to come to the playground anytime. Preschoolers are welcome to stay longer on the playground as long as their adult is with them.
* Lining Up/Wait Time – Updated 2024 KDHE regulation: Routines such as toileting and eating, and intervals between activities should be adapted so that children do not have to wait in lines or assemble in large groups. While this is something I am already mindful of, I am glad it is an official regulation. We will still “line up” for certain parts of our day but our line will look much more like a clump or cluster because that is developmentally appropriate! The most important part of our “line” is to stay behind Ms Kristin!
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