Montessori Children’s Center Daily Schedule for Early Childhood - (36 months to 6 years)

All EC children are no longer in diapers, including during nap. Toileting occurs individually. Children wash their hands after toileting, coming in from outside, before eating, after blowing their noses, or whenever they are soiled. Meadowlarks and Mountaineers go outside twice a day and will go out in most weather as long as parents provide gear. The Peace Room is also available in the event that weather or air quality prevents outdoor play. Caregivers ensure the required ratio at all times. Parents are required to check their child in and out of the ProCare system in order to gain entry into the building. Children are encouraged to walk to and from the Montessori Children’s Center building (rather than being carried) to assist in supporting independence. During the day at Montessori Children’s Center, children work individually or with friends and find purpose and joy through meaningful actions, taking responsibility, assisting others, being in community, and the discovery of new ideas, skills, connections, and abilities.

8:00-9:30 AM - Arrival

Children arrive individually, are greeted warmly, and are given a daily health check. They remove their outside shoes and gear and put on their inside shoes. Breakfast and morning snack are available for children to help themselves and enjoy at the 2-person snack table until 10:00 am. Children are encouraged to wash dishes afterward.

8:00-11:00 AM -Self-Chosen Work

The children choose work and activities, and engage with materials individually or with friends, or have a presentation from a teacher. Older children have work folders to collect their completed work. Children move freely about the room and may choose to work on a rug on the floor or at a table. The Montessori curriculum is both broad and deep and offers a wide assortment of practical life, gross motor activities, sensory experiences, manipulatives, language, reading and writing activities, math activities, geography, culture, books, and art based on the child’s interest and level. Seasonal art projects and food preparation may be available.

11:00-11:15 AM - Community Circle

Music, movement, stories, calendar, and seasonal presentations from the head teacher occur in a joyous gathering of the community. A child may choose to continue working individually or may assist in setting the table to prepare the environment for lunch. The children are individually called at the end of the circle to wash and toilet in preparation for lunch through a song that helps develop listening skills, patience, and self-control (i.e., listening for the end sound of their name or a song that includes a color they are wearing).

11:15-12:15 PM - Outdoor Activity (EC MT) 11:15-12:00 (EC Meadow)

Children transition to outside shoes and outdoor gear and then enjoy unstructured outside play on the Montessori Children’s Center park, field, or trike path, supervised by staff. An assortment of large wooden blocks, scooters, trikes, balance beams, and balls is available, as well as a climbing structure with a climbing wall, steps, a slide, and a large tunnel. Parents supply helmets for each child for riding a trike.

12:00-12:30 PM - Lunch

Lunch is served family style. Children join together to say the Montessori Children’s Center special words of gratitude in unison. The children are encouraged to serve themselves independently. All use open cups and utensils. If the parent supplies their lunch, the child will assist in transferring their meal to a plate or bowl, even if it is pouch food, so the child can use a utensil. Any leftovers of parent-supplied food are sent home. After finishing, the child carries their items to the basin and washes their plate, bowl, and cup.

12:45-3:15 PM - Nap and Rest

EC children sleep in low cots with sheets and lovies provided from home. The bedding is sent home weekly to be washed on Fridays or whenever it is soiled. Cots are thoroughly cleaned weekly on Fridays. Cots are assigned and not shared, and are placed two feet apart from each other. Teachers assist children in falling asleep by rubbing or patting, if needed. They are never awakened by caregivers but are allowed to sleep as long as they need. As they awaken, the children assist with putting away their bedding in their cubby and may help with putting away the cots. Children who do not nap are required to rest one hour on their cot and then may choose quiet activities in the room. Once enough children awaken, they may go outside or to the Peace Room with one of the teachers.

1:45-3:15 PM - Activity

Children play on the Montessori Children’s Center park, terrace, or Peace Room, supervised by staff.

3:15-3:30 PM - Snack

Children enjoy a second nutritious snack.

3:30-5:00 PM - Self-Chosen Work

Children choose manipulative work. Outdoor activities may continue on the terrace. Group activities such as art projects, sound lotto, games, and reading stories may occur.

3:30-5:30 PM - Dismissal

Children are dismissed according to their family’s pick-up schedule. From 5:00 to 5:30, children participate in the end-of-day routine, helping to reset the environment and prepare the class for the next day. All children and families must exit the building by 5:30 pm.