A Day at the PA
The following schedule outlines what a typical day for your child will look like.
When children arrive they will find their picture and name and place it on a pocket chart and will have an opportunity to explore and play. There will be a variety of activities set out daily including play dough, a craft table, trains, a sensory exploration table, a building blocks table, puzzles and a variety of busy baskets to encourage fine motor skills and language development.
Large Group: Large groups will consist mainly of fingerplays, songs, stories, creative movement and circle games. This time will also be used to talk about themes and concepts that we are exploring in the classroom through our centers and small groups.
Center Time: Center Time is child-led, not teacher-directed. We will have free choice centers. Children choose the centers they want to work in, and decide when they want to move to another center. Children learn to regulate the centers themselves through problem-solving. Many of the materials, including the art center, are open-ended, allowing children to be creative and decide how to use the materials with minimal teacher direction.
Small Group: This might include a craft, interactive story-telling, sharing, an activity related to our themes etc. Small group times will be used to teach and explore a variety of language and concepts as well as fine motor skills.
Snack: Children will use the washroom, wash hands and find their snacks in their lockers. They will then choose a place to sit at a table. When they are finished, children are responsible for cleaning their area and then may choose an activity to do in the classroom. This is a non-threatening time in which children develop conversation skills and experience positive social interactions with one another. Students will have the opportunity to discuss personal likes and dislikes and gain an understanding that other peoples choices may vary from their own. At this time students will also learn healthy choices and talk about hygiene, such as washing hands and only touching their own food. Students will also learn and practice table manners.
Gym/Outside play: Young children need active play to develop strong muscles. Active play also builds coordination in young children and increases confidence in their physical abilities. See link for more information on the importance and benefits of active play for young children. We will participate in gym or outside play daily. http://www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/hav/admin.nsf/Images/Move_Play_and_Go_Background_paper.pdf/$File/Move_Play_and_Go_Background_paper.pdf
Large Group / Goodbyes: Children will clean up centers and look at books on the carpet for a few minutes. Then I will read a story, talk about our day, and we will sing a goodbye song. Children will learn to be responsible for packing up there belongings at the end of the day.
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