The Pre-K day starts with Circle Time, which includes a group activity like a song or an action rhyme. Children are given the opportunity to express their ideas in a large group and learn from the ideas of others.

Small Group Time is when children are presented with a developmentally appropriate activity, planned and introduced by the teacher. Sometimes new materials are introduced or children are given the opportunity to practice or expand on a skill.

The Plan-Do-Review cycle is the core of the day and follows small group time. It provides an opportunity for learning to start with the children’s own interests and ideas. Children plan their activities and carry them out during work time, later sharing what they did with others.

The Art Area provides a place for children to express their creativity in a variety of mediums – with paint, markers, crayons, and other materials.

The Housekeeping Area is stocked with kid-sized versions of household furniture and appliances, dolls and accessories, and storekeeping items which allow children to engage in dramatic and imaginative play.

The Pretend Area is a great place for a child’s imagination, and has many clothes and accessories for the children to dress up in. Role playing is often extended to the other areas of the classroom.

The Block Area contains building blocks in a variety of sizes, shapes and types. Children create structures of all types, which fosters their creativity while teaching them some important principles of problem solving, spatial relationships, fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, verbal skills, social skills and even basic science and math concepts. Many of the building materials in the block area were purchased with an MBNA grant written by Mrs. Richards.

The Quiet Area is brimming with books, puzzles and developmentally appropriate games. It’s a great place to work with these materials in a relaxed atmosphere, either alone or collaboratively with peers and/or adults.