Our daily schedule
Our intention is to help children to become comfortable being in a classroom environment with their peers, listening to and following teachers’ instructions, expressing their needs and feelings to adults and other children, and spending their days in a structured, scheduled school routine. We leave a lot of space for exploration, free play, and social interaction, but we work hard to keep our daily schedule regular and predictable and our rules for behavior general but consistent. When the events of the day always happen in the same order, kids can anticipate transitions and self-regulate activities.
Arrival and breakfast
In the morning, teachers greet families as they arrive and help children to transition into the new school day. Children are asked to put away their book bags in a cubby or on a hook and say goodbye to their family member before they begin free play. When all of our students have arrived, we clean up and proceed to breakfast, which is provided by Kickstart. Each child finds a seat by searching for his or her own plate and cup. Each teacher sits with a table of children during breakfast. Children have about a half hour to eat and are responsible for cleaning up their own trash.
Circle time
We move from breakfast directly into circle time. Children are never forced to participate in any activity, but we ask that students remain quiet during circle time and do not disrupt classmates if they choose not to participate. Typically, we begin with a good morning song that incorporates movement and a special welcome for each individual student. We select our helpers: one weather watcher, one helping hand, and one line leader. We briefly discuss the weather, the calendar, and the plan for the rest of the day to come. Because we recognize that it is challenging and unproductive for children to sit still for too long, next, we get up and move with an activity like yoga, freeze dance, or another creative movement game. We end circle time by reading a story.
Outdoor play
Outdoor play is a no-brainer: it’s summer time, preschoolers have boundless energy, and the playground can be an open-ended, creative space for independent and collaborative play. After circle time, we have a 30-45 minute outdoor play session. During outdoor time, children engage in dramatic play, practicewriting letters and drawing pictures with chalk, and play with balls, bubbles, and hula hoops. Outdoor play is also crucial simply because it lets our kids let off steam, improve gross motor skills, and get exercise that helps them to focus throughout the rest of the day. We also have a 30-45 minute outdoor play session in the afternoons, following rest time.
Snack
When we return to our classroom after outdoor play, we immediately use the restroom and wash hands before beginning snack. Snack is also provided by Kickstart, and always includes a fruit, a vegetable, and a grain (like Goldfish, whole-grain crackers, or granola bars). We talk about healthy eating and where our food comes from. We also try to introduce a new fruit and vegetable every day - the favorites of 2013 were avocado and mango! Snack time is an essential transition because it helps children cool off after rigorous outdoor play and gives them fuel for the next segment of their day.
Centers
Center time is the heart of our school day. Centers are like our content areas, and the planning, decision-making and transitioning during center time allows children to activate and improve self-regulation skills. At the beginning of this hour, children are asked to sit down and work on a "play plan" before they begin. A play plan might be a dictated story, a picture, or a symbol that helps a child think about the center that they have chosen. When they have completed a play plan, children go to their center of choice: Art, Stories (Literacy), Math, Dramatic Play, or Blocks and Puzzles. Children are welcome to move freely between centers, but they must create a new play plan before beginning at a new center.
Lunch
Like breakfast and snack, lunch is provided at no additional cost to families. We use lunch as a winding down time after a busy morning. Again, teachers sit with children at their tables and participate in conversation. Lunch is also a great time to review the events of the day thus far and discuss the rest of the day to come. When children have finished eating and cleaning up, they gradually transition into rest time.
Rest time
Again, no one is ever forced to do anything at Kickstart, but we do expect that children act within general guidelines for behavior during every part of the day. During rest time, children can nap, sit or lay quietly on their cots, or silently read books to themselves. Teachers can help to soothe children who might have trouble resting. During rest time, we play soft, calming music. Rest time is about 60-75 minutes long, but we try to let children sleep as long as possible if they choose to nap.
Field Trip or afternoon activity
Every day, we have a special variable activity. Our past field trips have included Kid City, Russell Library, Wesleyan's Center for the Arts, and several local restaurants. We have also had guest teachers for music, dance, and cooking lessons. Like the rest of our program, the special activity component is planned according to the interests and talents of each cohort of Kickstart teachers.
