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A Day in the Elementary Program
The day begins with the children arriving between 8:15 and 8:30. Each child goes to his cubby and gets his clipboard containing his weekly plan. Then the group gathers on the floor to fill out the weekly plan and to have a short class meeting. If a child has any important information or a news item to share that morning he/she may add his/her name to the meeting board. Each child must include a math and reading requirement each day and then may choose the other activities s/he wishes to complete. The teacher has noted lessons for which she would like to meet with each child that day. Then the class goes to work.
One child might be writing a six page story in her writing journal oblivious to what is going on around her, while two boys may be sitting at the same table working on fractions. Children at another table nearby are working on dictionary skills, spelling or handwriting. Two girls might be on the floor working out a long division problem with the Test Tube Division materials. Three children might be sitting on the floor reading and acting out verbs and one boy is tracing a map of Africa with the help of another child. Two or more children might decide to do a report on ants, so the teacher guides them to the area in the library containing the insect books, or they may go on the internet to find information. The children have a long, uninterrupted time to work (three hours each morning). During this time the teacher and assistant may meet individually with children or in small groups. As they complete each activity the students check it off and go on to the next.
By working this way, children share ideas, develop social skills, take turns, give and get help, solve problems, and listen to each other. By interacting, children clarify their own thinking and master new subject matter.
Before lunch we meet together to have a class meeting, a large group lesson, go outside to play for awhile, or the teacher might read an ongoing chapter book.
After a relaxing lunch and 45 minutes of outside play time with the Extended Day (Kindergarten) children, the afternoons are filled with special classes (Spanish, Music, Art Class and Gym) as well as continued work time depending on the day’s schedule. This is also a time when we work on our Great Lessons with the Time Line of Life, history and cultural lessons, zoology, botany or another on-going theme. Some children go home at 3:00, and others stay to attend our After School Program.
