Our preschool has two 2's classes. One is Tuesdays only, and the other is on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I teach the 2-day a week class, but both follow this schedule:
9:30 Arrivals and Centers Time
We offer free-choice centers as soon as the 2's arrive. They are not required to be at any center at any given time, but have the freedom to roam and explore at their own pace. The centers provided are: book corner, writing table, play dough, table activities, house corner, blocks and cars, science, art, easel and sensory. Also, during this time, if the weather is cooperating we open the door for outdoor exploration as well.
10:15 Clean Up
We sing our clean up song and work together to clean up the classroom.
10:25 Story
At the beginning of the year this is very informal and I don't force anyone to sit while we read. As the year progresses and their attention spans grow, they sit on their personalized mats while we read a short story.
10:35 Snack
Our preschoolers bring their own snack and we sit family style.
11:00 Recess
We have the choice of 2 indoor spaces for large motor fun. We are lucky to have access to these spaces since it rains often here in the Pacific Northwest.
11:40 Music and Movement
We finish our day with some fingerplays, instruments, dancing and singing.
12:00 Departures
Hi there! I also teach twos and was wondering if you have a diaper changing/potty time.
ReplyDeleteWe change diapers when needed, but check all of them before snack time. Since it's only 2.5 hours, we don't always have many to change. (Although there ARE those mornings...) State requires that we keep a log of all diapers changed, as I'm sure everyone has to do.
DeleteHow many teachers/students do you have? I'm wondering how you handle supervision when some children are inside and some outside...
ReplyDeleteWe have 2 teachers on Tuesday and a 3rd teacher for part of the morning on Thursdays, with 10 two year olds. Our outdoor classroom is directly off our classroom, so one teacher takes 5 outside at a time while the other teacher is inside.
DeleteHow do you deal with transitions when some are still eating and others have been done for a while?
ReplyDeleteFor our 3's, we have a few different activities set up on the rug (puzzles, etc.). After they clean their spot and wash hands, they go to the rug to work on an activity, or they can go to the book corner or the writing corner.
DeleteFor the 3's, I turn on music and they dance. They are also welcome to look at books or be at the writing table.
How do you handle discipline problems? I noticed you mentioned some of them don't sit while you are reading...I have a mixed age class of JUST turned three to JUST turned five year olds and I'm finding it difficult to manage the ones who KNOW what they are doing with the ones who do whatever they want because they still haven't learned. I have an assistant but since we eat breakfast, lunch and snack in the classroom she spends most of her time cleaning. It's a bit hectic.
ReplyDeleteState requires that we keep a log of all diapers changed, as I'm sure everyone has to do.
ReplyDeletecool math 4 kids