Social Learning

Arrival, Sign-In, and Floor Games

Every morning, students are greeted by the teacher as they enter the main classroom and put their belongings away. Students then sign in and join in with friends to play board games, do puzzles, or play with math or literacy manipulatives as a soft start to the day while the rest of our friends are filtering in.

Morning Meeting

Every morning, the class gathers for morning meeting. The familiarity of this routine is something the children look forward to, and it often becomes everyone’s favorite part of the day! We sing songs, greet one another by name, play a community-building game, and read a morning message. During morning meeting, we address many of the Kindergarten standards like days of the week, weather, counting by ones and tens, etc. We always review the day’s agenda so children feel prepared for the day.

Free Play/Explore

During this time, children are free to move among the three rooms and engage in whichever activities they choose. Activities such as painting, drawing, play manipulatives, dress-up, giant wooden blocks, and a sensory table are always available; alternating activities may include climbing on the wooden climber, building with gigantic tinker toys, playing a sport, helping mix ingredients for a baking/cooking project, working at a simulated store or other dramatic play, or creating a special art project. This is the time for continuing project work and investigations based on children’s interests.

Lunch & Snack

The children bring their lunches and eat together each school day. Food sensitivities and allergies are accommodated.

Each afternoon, a snack option is provided by the school or families are welcome to pack a snack from home. Food sensitivities and allergies are accommodated.

Quiet Time

During quiet time, the children lie or sit peacefully on carpet squares or yoga mats while lights are dimmed and calming music is played. Students quietly read books independently, rest their bodies, or engage in yoga stretches.

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor Play

As long as the temperature is above zero and it is not storming, children experience outdoor play on the school’s well-equipped, half-acre playground every day. Children are free to play on all playground equipment. They also have access to tricycles, sand toys, sleds, and other seasonal toys. The participating parent and teacher are present around the playground to ensure a safe and fun playtime. We encourage the children to have fun and we expect them to get dirty!

Forest Days at Holliday Park

Every month, the Kinderbirds spend at least one full day a month at Holliday Park. These days are full of playground time, nature hikes, journaling, and playing in the Park’s Nature Center. Miss Jennie leads the students through morning meeting, read-alouds, and other academically-minded activities under the shade of a tree or in the middle of the woods.

Focused Learning and Enrichment

Music

Our music teacher comes once a week to the classroom and leads the class in a music lesson. This is a very interactive and often physical lesson, in which the children learn about pitch, rhythm, tempo, etc. and frequently have the opportunity to play different instruments.

Spanish

Twice monthly our Spanish teacher comes to the classroom for small group Spanish lessons. The class is divided into two small groups and each group gets a chance to work with the Spanish teacher for an engaging, hands-on, music and story-filled Spanish lesson.