Back to School!!

The "big kids" got off to a great start last week! All the fours, fives, and sixes started school and jumped right in with two feet!! I had a week planned with lots of art projects and back-to-school activities, and I was shocked when (on the very first day), several of the children brushed off my light-hearted plans and pulled out big math and language activities instead. Some surprising work choices have included addition math drill sheets, golden bead material, stamp game, map drawing, cursive handwriting practice, LOTS of animal diagrams, and reading. The twos and threes started this week, and I am absolutely tickled by how much the children remember from this past spring and summer, and by how much it feels like the the school year is well underway. 

One of the most exciting aspects of this school year has been the addition of a new classroom, and our welcoming of some fabulous new teachers. We have loved having the twos in our class in the past, but we are delighted to now have a tranquil space for them to explore outside our main Primary Class for two hours each day.

For those of you who couldn't make the Twos Open House, we can't wait to show off our new classroom in miniature, and I have listed our Twos class schedule below. The schedule changes as the year progresses to include much less group time and much more individual work time; however, with our littlest ones, the beginning of school is filled with lots of small group (3-6 children) activities as we introduce the children to their new environment and help them connect with new friends. At the moment, our Twos' schedule is as follows:

8:25-8:45 -- Morning Carpool/Morning Greeting, Story, & Songs
8:45-9:00 -- Potty Breaks & Circle Time
9:00-9:15 -- Group Snack Time
9:15-10:15 -- Small Group Lessons in Language, Art, Math, and Geography/ Independent Work Time
10:15-10:30 -- Potty Breaks & Circle Time
10:30-11:00 -- Playtime
11:00-11:30 -- Lunch
11:30-12:00 -- Work Time in the Primary Class
12:00-12:15 -- Music & Movement in the Primary Class

12:15-12:30 -- Story and Dismissal 

coloring

beginning sound games

color matching; guinea pig cuddles; insect matching/naming

stencils

ball games/free play

music and movement

We are so glad your family is with us at Marlowe this year, and we look to forward many fun-filled months ahead!!