Sprouting Little Learners
Sprouting Little Learners
8:30 – 8:45 Drop Off Window
8:45 – 9:00 Story & Calendar
9:00 – 10:00 Holiday/Theme Activity or Craft
10:00 – 11:00 Writing Time
11:00 – 12:00 Literacy Time
12:00 – 1:00 Clean Up/Lunch/Outdoor Play
1:00 – 1:30 Quiet Time Learning Video
1:30 – 2:30 Social Skills
2:30 – 3:30 Math Time
3:30 – 3:45 Clean Up/Snack/Pack Up
3:45 – 4:00 Pick Up Window
We begin each day with an interactive read-aloud. The story we read is always related to whatever theme we are in. After the read-aloud, we head to circle time to do calendar. During calendar we work on several different skills:
Our first activity of the day is always a craft project that goes along with our theme. This is where students get to work with lots of different types of materials: scissors, glue, paint, craft sticks, stickers, paper, glitter, etc. We work on direction following and spatial reasoning. We usually do these activities in small groups of 3-5 kids, so we are also working on the kindergarten ready skills of being able to work in a group: waiting our turn to talk, taking turns, using a quiet voice, etc. While some kids are working on their craft, the rest of the kids are getting some free play time with friends. As each finishes up their project, the return to play time and another student takes their place at the table.
Writing time is broken up into two parts: Whole Group Instruction and One on One Instruction
Whole Group Instruction: During whole group instruction, we are working on handwriting. Throughout the course of the school year we will learn how to write all the capital and lowercase letters in the alphabet. Each student has their own notebook with dry erase pages that we work on together.
One on One Instruction: During this time kids are called to the table one at a time to practice the writing skill that they are personally working on. Some days this is done through quick practice with flashcards, dry erase markers, or hands-on materials. Sometimes we do a craft activity centered around writing skills. While one student is working at the table, the others are having free play time. When a student’s turn ends, they return to play time and another student takes their place.
Literacy time is broken up into three parts: Whole Group Instruction, One on One Instruction, Whole Group Wrap-Up
Whole Group Instruction: During whole group instruction, we are doing phonemic awareness. We are practicing everything at the word, syllable, and sound level. We practice things like counting words in a sentence, counting syllables in words, isolating beginning sounds, blending sounds to pronounce words, substituting sounds to make new words, etc.
One on One Instruction: Each student gets a one-on-one turn to practice the skills they are personally working on. Sometimes we do quick practice with flashcards and hands-on materials. Other times we will do a craft activity centered around literacy skills such as letter matching and picture word matching. While one student is as the table, the other kids are having free play time. After their turn, the student returns to free play and another student gets called for their turn.
Whole Group Wrap-Up: This time of the day is where we wrap up the morning with our letter-sound routine. For the first half of the school year, we are learning a new letter each day. Using large letter cards, we learn the letter name, associate the beginning sound with a picture, and say them together. Each day we review the ones we have learned and add a new one. Then we read an “Alphatale” for our new letter- a story that highlights that letter and sound. For the second half of the year, when we have learned all 26 letters, this wrap-up segment just consists of us going through all 26 cards quickly for daily letter-sound review.
Weather permitting, kids get to have outside play time every day. If it is very cold, very windy, very wet, or very icy, we will remain inside. We have playground equipment that is not safe in these conditions.
There is not a nap time at Thinkie Beans Preschool, but after outside play time we do a quiet rest time. During this time we will watch a 30-40 minute learning video. Some examples of what we watch are Daniel Tiger, Leapfrog learning videos, Wallykazam, SuperWhy, Team UmiZoomi, Blaze and the Monster Machines, etc. All videos are educational at a preschool level and are appropriate for kids.
Social Skills Time is broken up into two parts: Whole Group Activity and Small Group Activity Time.
Whole Group Activity: Our Social Skills curriculum is driven by Daniel Tiger, because so many of the skills we work on are covered by this show. Each day we start this time by either watching a Daniel Tiger episode during quiet time, or reading a story that highlights our current social skill. Then we do an activity as a group to practice whatever social skill we are working on. This usually involves a sorting or labeling activity for things such as good and bad choice, being a friend not being a friend, what level of voices we use, etc.
Small Group Activity: Over the course of the school year, students will be assembling a social skills journal. This is a composition notebook were we keep track of the skills we are learning. We work on sorting activities, matching activities, labeling activities, etc. and glue them into our journal. At the end of the year, students get to take their journal home filled with all their social emotional learning skills for the year.
Math Time is broken up into two parts: Whole Group Instruction and Individual Instruction
Whole Group Instruction: During our whole group instruction time, we are working on counting and number recognition. Some days we will read a math story to practice counting and identifying numbers. Other days we will get out the math manipulatives and do hands-on activities to practice these skills.
Individual Instruction: Each student will get a math turn at the table to work one-on-one on their individual skills. Sometimes this looks like quick practice with counters, flashcards, and hands-on materials. Other days, we will do a craft activity centered on their math skill, such as matching activities or number sequencing.
We end each day with a snack after we clean up toys. After snack, kids pack up their things in their backpack and get ready to go!
Each day your child will come home with a daily activity log. This gives you an idea of what your child is working on, and how they spent their day at school.
