Since I had someone ask me about my daily schedule I thought I would post it here just in case anyone else is interested in knowing what we do everyday. (Monday to Friday)
This seems to be our natural WINTER rhythm…the times vary, I wrote them in to give the reader a sense of how much time we usually spend on each. (Summer is completely different!)
5:40 AM – I wake up, walk to the gym and work-out. (OK, this is NOT part of my NATURAL rhythm, me and the gym have a love/hate relationship…I DO go everyday, but it is NOT natural for me yet:)
6:45 AM – Arrive home and get ready for the day.
7:45 – 8:15 AM – Breakfast
8:00 AM – Other children arrive
8:15 – 9:00 AM – Free play while I tidy up breakfast etc.
9:00 AM – Sing “Tapping at the window, tapping at the door, everybody sit down on the count of 4. 1 – 2 – 3 – 4.
All the kids come sit down and get ready for “circle” time.
Sing Welcome song and Hello song.
Talk about our theme
Review what day it is
Sing days of the week
Sing months of the year
Review what season it is, go to the window to look at the sky.
Discuss the weather and change weather chart accordingly. (We often talk about Continents at this time too as one child usually seems bring up the topic)
Sing more songs to go with our theme or ones the children choose.
9:30 – Craft time and if they finish before the others they pick a book to look at.
10:20 – Snack time – little one wakes up. Children help prepare snack and set the table.
10:45 – Rhyme of the Month
10:55 – Choice: (Montessori or Table activity or game with a friend – all done at the table) OR (Free Play).
The reason they are at the table to do activities if they do not want to play is so that I can see them while I prepare lunch and help them if needed) This way the older ones can work with some of the materials that are not safe on the floor with the little ones.
12:15 – Lunch
1:00 – Story time ending with the silence book and ringing of the bell.
1:30 – Nap/rest time Children may look at a book on the mat if they do not want to sleep.
2:30 – Children who are awake do a quiet activity with me at the table (usually a Montessori work of their choice). I observe.
3:30 – Snack for the preschoolers (and little ones if they are awake).
3:30 – Snack for the preschoolers (and little ones if they are awake).
3:40 – Game time – (we sometimes switch around craft time and game time)
4:00 – (Play dough of the month, coloring, or free art time at the table) or (outside play) – I wake up the little ones if they are still sleeping and give them a snack.
4:30 – Goodbye routine. (one child is here twice a week till about 7:30, we do not do planned activities after 4:30, just Free play).
…and before you ask, no…we do not watch TV. (Our girls may watch a movie as a choice, but rarely do…maybe once or twice a month on a weekend – Prince Charming sometimes watches the news, and we watch one evening show together a week).
I do rotate some of the Montessori materials into the FREE PLAY area so many of the children choose sensorial types of activities or practical life activities during this time too! – I only put materials that are safe for ALL the children (18 months – 4 years).
Susan
Wednesday 3rd of February 2010
Loved reading about the flow of your day. We too, have a very different schedule in the winter ~ it's good that way.
MeghanM
Wednesday 27th of January 2010
I don't homeschool, but reading this is great. I feel like I don't do enough with my boys and this helps!
A 2 Z
Tuesday 26th of January 2010
Well this takes me back about 20 years. I lived in Australia for a while and sent my kids to a Montessori centre. Its very popular there, more than here in Canada. My kids enjoyed it so much. I'm also a teacher but will be retiring in a few years. I was inspired by Montessori and it influenced my teaching philosophy a bit or as much as you can in public school. You can observe and appreciate children much better when you leave them to pick and choose their activities as well as the children they want to interact with. I enjoyed just watching and listening in on their conversations.Anyway, good luck with teaching. Its a very rewarding but tiring career. Bye for now,
Anne-Marie
Mari-Ann
Tuesday 26th of January 2010
Shhh... I'm supposed to be a on a bloggy break, but I wanted to stop by one of my fav. bloggy friend's blogs to see what you're up to. :) What a great day you have planned! I just finished reading about daily routine in my training manual, so this is very timely for me! :)
Montessori Moments
Tuesday 26th of January 2010
Paloma, I am so glad you love my blog! You are welcome to stay forever!