A Montessori Day
8:00 am
Arrival
When the children first arrive at school, they will put their lunch box away and hang up a sweater or jacket. Some children will choose an activity from the shelf right away, and others will greet friends and observe for a while. The teachers may invite certain children to work on specific activities, such as reading or number work. At the beginning of a new term, half to two-thirds of the class are returning and can go right to work. New children are shown some basic activities to integrate them into the classroom quickly. More detailed evaluation and presentations follow soon.
8:30 am
The Morning Work Period
During the morning work period, one teacher usually works with a child or small group, while the other teacher is circulating throughout the class helping when needed. Most children are working independently with guidance and instruction from the teacher. This is the period when the children work with Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Art, Language, and Science activities. In addition, a reading area for the children is available. Snack will be introduced during the morning work time.
10:30 am
Clean Up Time
At clean up time, the teacher will ring the bell and the children will put away their work. They are now ready for circle time.
11:00 am
Circle Time
At circle time, the children will gather in a group for the day’s lesson. During this circle time, the children will often discuss the calendar, phonetic sound of the week, and the monthly unit lesson. Monthly unit lessons range from Geography, Nutrition, Community Helpers, Dinosaurs, or some other interesting unit of study. A second circle time during the day may be devoted to such things as music, dance and movement, or story reading.
12:30 pm
Afternoon
By 12:30 p.m. the half-day children leave school. After lunch and recess, the full day children come into the classroom to wash their hands and have a story time. The children whose parents have indicated that they should nap will be shown to a cot with their blanket and pillow. The children who do not nap will again have an afternoon work period. Those waking from their naps will later join the children who are working with the materials.
2:45 pm
Clean Up and Dismissal
By 2:45 p.m. the children will begin to clean up their afternoon projects, come together for the end of the day circle time and will either be picked up or go outside for play. At 3:15 p.m. after school care begins.
3:15 - 6:00 pm
After School Care
Aftercare is from 3:15 p.m. to 6:00pm. The children play outside until 4:00 p.m. They then return to the classroom, are given a snack, and have an activity such as story time, games or singing. The children then have free time to choose toys, puzzles, games and art activities. During this time optional classes such as such as dance, art, Playball, LEGOS or chess are also available. Parents may pick up their children anytime throughout aftercare.