Daily Routine
ARRIVALS & SPECIAL LESSONS:
During arrivals the children undress on their own, wash hands and sit on the bench in the cloakroom reading books waiting for everyone to arrive. Thhis gives them time to chat, socialize and discuss books. At 8:50 we start special lessons, Monday-Wednesday it is French, on Thursday we have science and on Friday classical music listening and discussion. This gives us the chance to introduce other subjects without interrupting the Montessori work cycle.
MORNING WORK CYCLE:
In the spring and early fall our work cycle starts outdoors, where children play, garden, work and socialize. This includes purposeful outdoor materials, such as rakes, gardening tools, buckets for collecting nature, mini- wheel barrels, mini wagons, small polished logs to build or transport. Outdoor time and the exposure to different seasons and elements is crucial to children as they are finding the connection to the greater world. Being outdoor engaging in active and productive social time is calming and essential for healthy and happy childhood. In the colder season our work cycle starts inside.
After outdoor Montessori time, students continue to work indoors. This cycle is not interrupted by other activities and it is one of the key features of the Montessori method. During the work cycle students take work they like, repeat it as many times as they like and put it away, then they take another work out, etc. They are also allowed to observe other students working or another lesson being given to someone else. The student might also want to go and eat snack or sit in the library or rest quietly. Every child is doing something else and the students are working by themselves developing focus and concentration, which is another important feature of the Montessori method. During the Montessori work cycle, students are encouraged to work on their own, respect each other’s work, use indoor voices, not interrupt or shout across the classroom. The students are also given grace and courtesy lessons as they arise or as a lesson. Grace and courtesy is demonstrated and practiced at all times. This routine happens daily from morning to lunch.
LUNCH :
Students finish their work, tidy up and wash up before eating. After lunch they wash their dishes, tidy up their spots, sweep the floor and start preparing for going outside.
GARDEN TIME:
The children spend time outside in our garden.
AFTERNOON WORK CYCLE:
After outdoor time, children eat snack and continue with the afternoon work cycle.
Everyday is the same routine and this is very important for preschool age children. They like the sense of order and predictability.
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