Finches
2's Class/Finches
9:00-11:00 am
Offered on Monday
Age 2 by September 1
A Day in the Life of a Finch
8:45 - Arrival
Participating parents arrive and begin set up. Daily lesson plans are posted in the Art Room on the snack cupboard door. Please look at daily planner and choose a room to start setting up. When finished, ask to see what else might need to be done. We need to get the "box of boxes" out that contain the diapers etc. and set up in the ladies bathroom. We need to move any church items out of the rooms as well as the Kindergarten carts. We need to set up our "housekeeping" area in the block room. Lastly, we need to set out paint cups and paper at the easels.
9:00 - Greeting
Mrs. Foley sits in the hall in the greeting chair. Children arrive. Children put their belongings in their cubbies. Hats and mittens placed in the sleeves of their coats or in backpacks so that they can reach them for outdoor time. This also leaves the cubby shelf clear for papers or drawings. Children may select which room they wish to play in. Children are free to move about in the two rooms. One co-op parent stays in each room during free play. Mrs. Foley moves abut to assist where needed. Parents can either assist in the play, help the play get started, or sit back and watch the play unfold. Observation sheets are in each room for parents to jot down what they see or hear, like interesting conversation exchanges. These may later appear in the school newsletter.
10:00 - Clean-up
Clean up involves all helpers, children and adults. Keeping items organized helps in our day to day operations.
10:10 - Snack Time
Snack set-up, children wash their hands (Block room cubby children in the Block Room, the other children wash in the Art Room.) Wipe down tables with spray bottle and clean white cloth. Placemats are set around the tables, making sure there is one co-op parent at each table and their child. Parents sit at the heads of the table. Mrs. Foley is at the 3rd table. Four children at each table. Each table has a basket with extra snacks, so they can practice asking "please pass the basket" and "thank you." Each child's cup is placed on the placemat. A small amount of snack is placed on the placemat. For gooey snacks we will use a napkin. Water pitchers are placed at each table, cups are filled 1/3 full at the start. Children cleanup after themselves before getting ready for Circle Time.
10:20 -Circle Time
Circle Time begins with quiet reading. Children sit on the circle rug and pick a book from the box. Lights are off and quiet music is playing. Mrs. Foley visits with each child. Lights go on, music goes off and children put their books away. Music, movement, fingerplays and story to follow. Dismissal for outside, making sure that one parent is in each room to assist with getting them ready. Please help show children how to get ready so that they may soon be able to do it on their own. One parent stays in to clean up while the other comes outside.
10:30 - Recess
Outside time is fun and needs to be safe. Parents are stationed around the playground; one at slide/climber, sandbox, swings, and green climber. We move to where the action is and we are needed. Sometimes we "close off" a certain area until either more adults are around or more children want to play there. Waiting for something can be a good thing.
11:00 - Dismissal
Dismissal time, parents arrive on time, sign out, and get their belongings out of their cubbies and gather their children. Please let Mrs. Foley know when you have your child. Be sure your child does not leave the playground without you. You're welcome to chat and play, but please take charge of your child.
11:05 - Conferences
Conference time with the co-op parents gives us a chance to review the day; what worked, didn't work and why. It allows you time to ask questions about the day. It is an extra way for us all to stay connected and address issues as they arise. We will be finished at 11:15.
