PRE-SCHOOL DAY

The structure of the preschool day offers choices and challenges, problems and solutions, friendship and delight.

GREETING & GROUP TIME

As the children arrive, the teacher welcomes each child individually, catches up on their “news,” and does a visual health check. The children check-in and make plans for the day. Some children find they have a "job" to do - Line Leader, Bell Ringer, Door Holder, Table Washer. They choose and work in centers until everyone has arrived.

Circle time is an exercise in class “decorum” in an atmosphere acceptant of children’s inexperience, enthusiasm and active natures. Developing self-regulation is a process that requires time and support. The teachers make circle time interesting, lively, and child sensitive, so focused attention grows while children talk and listen, sing and dance, and preview the school day together.

The teacher may lead a discussion of a topic of current interest, or help advance children’s plans for an emerging project. Themes and projects available during center time allow children to assume social roles, explore attributes of common materials, and work together toward self-chosen goals. Topics may arise from children’s interests or be introduced by the teacher. They could include roles of family members, friends, pets, vets, homes, doctors, stores, restaurants - almost any experience from within the young child’s growing world. As the children’s imaginative and constructive play develops, circle time may also be used for discussing the problems and issues of society in microcosm – kind words, safe behavior, sharing resources. Subjects under construction are communicated in each teacher's monthly newsletter.

Talking in turn, listening to one another, and attending to the teacher are “school skills” that must be thoughtfully developed. They prepare children for more formal educational settings to come, and help them participate in group-life more easily. However children’s curiosity, creativity, and enthusiastic need to “find out firsthand” shouldn’t be held at bay too long!

So next comes. . . .  center time!