A Day at
Habitat
8:30-8:45 am Drop-off /
Settling In
Parents may drop off children any time between 8:30 and
8:45. Children hang up their coats, settle in with reading
materials, and prepare for the day's activities.
8:45-9:00 am Circle Time
Door will be closed. Children and teachers sit in a circle
and discuss topics that vary from day to day. Some topics
include: the days of the week and calendars, cardinal
directions, Spanish, fire safety, American Sign Language,
upcoming events. When the classroom teachers introduce new
materials to the shelves they often present them to the
children during circle time. When a child celebrates a
birthday, the special Montessori birthday ritual is
performed during circle time. During circle time older
children speak up frequently while younger children sit
back and listen. As they grow more confident in their
verbal skills, the younger children participate more and
more in the conversation.
9:00-11:00 am Work Period
As circle time draws to a close, the children are itching
to get started with their work. Children select activities
that interest them. Individual and small group lessons are
given during this time. Children also participate in
special projects (music, art, etc.). Children may serve
themselves the daily snacks (two children at a time)
whenever they wish. This allows the older children a longer
work period. The children tend to work intensely for a
period of time, eventually have a brief period of fatigue;
then regroup for another period of concentrated efforts.
There will be group snacks on special occasions, such as
birthdays.
11:00-11:15 am Circle Time
As the day is drawing to a close, one child rings a bell,
and says, "Please put your jobs away and come to circle
time. Thank you." Everyone gathers together to debrief as a
group before going outdoors for some time on the
playground. During the second semester, children
participate in the Montessori ritual of "Silence": they sit
quietly with their eyes close for a minute or so and
listen. Then they open their eyes and share what they have
heard.
11:15-11:30 am Outdoor Play
We believe strongly in the value of unstructured outdoor
play, and the children love going outdoors even in very
cold weather. When the weather does not allow for outdoor
play, they often do yoga as a group indoors.
11:30 Pick Up
Children who are not enrolled in kindergarten or the
extended day program are picked up at 11:30 on the
playground. You're welcome to stick around and let your
kids play longer.
11:30 am-1:30 pm Kindergarten (if
enrolled)
Kindergarten activities and specialized tasks and learning
for older children
11:30 am - 1:00 pm Extended Day Program (if
enrolled)