8:20-8:30am Arrival and Morning Greetings
During arrivals, the Head Teacher gives her full attention to warmly welcoming children after they have said goodbye and separated from their caregiver at the classroom door.
8:30am Morning Work Period and Group Time
Orienting - During the first few weeks of a new school year, the teacher may begin the day by gathering the group for a variety of activities such as singing, name games, finger plays, or a Grace and Courtesy Lesson.
Once the class is established, sometime within the first or second month, the children arrive at school and freely choose how to begin their day, instead of starting the day as a group.
Independent Choice - The children may always choose from any materials they have been presented, working in the outdoor vegetable and flower gardens, and plein-air painting. They might also be invited to work alongside MdTL’s Naturalist in Residence in the Community Garden.
Lessons - The Head Teacher presents carefully-planned lessons to an individual or a small group. To support the development of concentration, we strive to provide an uninterrupted three-hour work period.
Snack - A nourishing morning snack of protein, carbs, and fruit is available daily for every child as soon as he or she feels hungry.
Time as a Community - Children are given the option to come together once more and participate in movement games, singing, oral storytelling, poetry recitation, art appreciation, and Grace and Courtesy Lessons with the Head Teacher.
Outdoor Play and Exploration - All 1st year students and children who go home at noon are invited to enjoy a half hour of outdoor play on the beautiful, natural playscape just outside their classroom.
12:00pm Dismissal for Half-Day Students
Children with a noon dismissal line up and prepare to go home. From their class bench, children are dismissed one at a time by their Head Teacher. Parents and caregivers wait at their classroom’s designated gate to greet their children.
11:30am-1:00pm Lunch and Outdoor Play
The 2nd and 3rd year children who stay for the afternoon eat lunch and participate in cleaning up their classroom. Each child receives a lunchtime responsibility that rotates every week. After lunch, the children enjoy outdoor play. Nappers transition to the Pine Room for an afternoon nap.
1:00pm Afternoon Work Period
Children who are enrolled in full days of school return indoors for a brief relaxation activity, such as a chapter book or soft music, with the Head Teacher.
The afternoon work period provides these older children ample time to follow through with and dig deeper into the more sophisticated concepts and projects they have grown capable of taking on.
2:50-3:00pm Clean Up
All children prepare the classroom so it is orderly for the next day and often close the afternoon with a brief group time.
3:00pm Dismissal
Children sit on their designated class bench, waiting to be dismissed one at a time by their Head Teacher. Parents and caregivers wait outside their classroom’s designated gate to pick up their children.
3:00-5:00pm Aftercare
For children who stay at school beyond 3pm, Aftercare takes place in the Pine Room and offers art projects, music, nature walks, open-ended toys, classic games, special equipment for gross-motor activities, as well as ample time to enjoy the outdoor playscape. A snack is served around 3:30pm.
