An inside peek
A Typical Co-op Day
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”
~Fred Rogers
Walk into any Co-op classroom and you will see the power of play in action. In the block area, you might notice children working together to create a bridge out of blocks to support cars. Another group of children is busy turning the dramatic play area into a pizza restaurant. A few children cluster together at the easel to admire the painting they made together. Over at the water table, children are carefully washing baby dolls and animal figurines.
At the Co-op, learning is:
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Research-based: children learn best through play.
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Hands-on: instead of worksheets, our children explore early math, literacy, and science skills through hands-on exploration.
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Child-led: teachers respond to the unique interests of the children in their class through the materials they present, the books they read, and the explorations they make.
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Individualized: our approach encourages the intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development of each child.
Schedule a tour to see for yourself what makes the Co-op so special.
A Sample Day at the Co-op:
Arrival
Children begin their Co-op day walking up the red brick path from our convenient curbside drop-off.
They are warmly greeted by their teachers as they place their belongings in their cubbies. They check themselves in by placing a card with their photograph on it in a basket and take a look at the day's schedule posted by the door.
Center Time
Children engage in a variety of child-led, play-based activities including blocks, water table, writing center, dramatic play, and easel painting. The teacher will often have an art activity prepared for children during this time or will work with children in small groups on a specific skill.
Morning Meeting
Children gather as a class on the rug for circle time. The teacher may begin with a question or prompt for children to respond to. The teacher might use this time to introduce new ideas or build classroom community.
Snack
Children enjoy a healthy snack provided by families on a rotating basis. During snack time, children learn to serve themselves, pour their own water, engage in conversation with their peers and teachers, and clean up after themselves.
Book Time
Children select books from the classroom library to read individually, in small groups, or with a teacher. Then children gather together to enjoy a story read to them by their teacher.
Fine Motor
Children engage in a variety of fine motor activities designed to develop the fine motor skills that will be necessary to learn to write. Activities may include the writing center, tabletop building materials, loose parts play, and puzzles.
Playground
Children enjoy ample time on one of our two outdoor playgrounds or in our indoor play space in the event of inclement weather.
Lunch, Quiet Time, and Dismissal
Our Our Pre-K students enjoy eating lunch with their classmates and teachers. Teachers help facilitate conversation and use this time to build classroom community.
Teachers often end the day with an audio book or music before children are dismissed through curbside pick-up.
Children in both the Three's and Four's programs have the option of extending their day with an Enrichment class and Stay & Play. (Enrichment classes for our Three's children include 30 minutes for lunch.)
