Class Info

ROUTINES/SCHEDULE

Music with Mrs. Schwarzbach is on Mondays (11:40-12:00) and Wednesdays (11:30-11:50)
Library with Mrs. Milner is on Wednesdays (11:50-12:10)
Gym with Mrs. Venturini is on Tuesday (10:40-11:10) and Fridays with me (2:00-2:30)
Early Dismissal Wednesdays at 2:00
iPads - Tuesdays at 11:30
Book Exchange - Thursdays 11:00-11:30

We are slowly implementing new routines into our days.  Eventually all of the following will be part of the regular routine (some we have not started yet).

Upon arrival:

• children take their name from the sign in board and move it from "absent" to "present."
• say good morning to the teacher with eye contact
• take care of their belongings - notices and things being returned to the teacher go into the white basket
• choose a book and sit on the carpet to read with friends and check in with each other
• teacher checks in with students, organizes returned notices and does attendance

After book time/morning:

• Calendar (lots of math) will be teacher led until some point in October.  From that point on, calendar is led by a special helper each day (information specific to special helper still to come)
• Lesson of the day (story, letter of the week, art activity, writing activity, etc.) 
• Work centres
• Choosing time in the classroom at learning centers
• Cleanup, hand washing, bathroom, snack until recess

After recess

• Numeracy activities - mainly using manipulatives, whole group, small group, pairs.
• Daily Physical Activity/body movement
• Special art projects
• Choosing time in classroom at learning centres
• Cleanup, hand washing, bathroom, 1/2 lunch eaten

After lunch

• Quiet as a Mouse time (lights out, classical music plays, no talking, option to look at books, draw in Quiet as a Mouse books, or just relax.  This is their time to be in their own space, enjoy some peace and quiet, self direct, and reflect.  We all LOVE it!  
• Sharing for the special helper (not yet - information about sharing is to follow)
• Science/Health and Career/Social Studies (depending on the day)
• Adventure time outside, weather permitting
• Wash hands for final snack time of the day
• Packing up for home time - it is their job to stack their chair and pack their bags, put boots on, jackets zipped, etc.  A "hands free student is a well organized student" :-)

SNACKS

Many of you will hear from your children, certain "rules" for snack time.  It is quite an ordeal each year with many mixed messages coming home.

Health and nutrition is a topic of focus for us all year long.  Some things that we focus on include the following:

• food is fuel - it gives you energy
• healthy food prepares your body and mind for learning and play
• processed food is less healthy than fresh
• timing is everything - sweets come last!
• WATER, WATER, WATER

To this end, we practice the following:

We eat 4 times per day.

The first snack is at about 10:00.  At this time, it would be ideal for them to have some fresh fruits and/ vegetables.  We talk about the healthiest foods being those that look the same way now, as they did when they were growing in nature.  In doing so, we distinguish between an apple and apple sauce for example.  The apple is a healthy snack any time of day because it provides nutrition, while the applesauce is processed and is better as a snack later in the day.

We are a play first, eat second school; however, our eating time after lunch recess is quite limited and Kindies often have trouble finishing before the bell.  Also, they are REALLY hungry by 12:00.  To accommodate, our second snack of the day is around 11:45 - we call it "half-lunch." and they can eat just that…half their lunch.  This is also a good time for fresh fruits and veggies.

Third snack will be the rest of their lunch after lunch recess.  Once they are finished their sandwich (or thermos item) they might also want to munch on some crackers or similar.  If they have a juice box, now is a good time to drink it but water would be IDEAL.

Last snack of the day is at 2:30.  At this time, they can eat anything, really.  We sometimes call it our "sweety treaty" snack because they know that if they have a cookie, granola bar, fruit cup, etc. that they can eat it now.  It is also a perfect time for yummy things like popcorn, crackers, etc.  We talk about the fact that these foods are perfectly fine to eat, in moderation, and at the right time of day.  Of course, you might choose to send something that is more nutritious for this snack - the choice is yours.

Having said all of this, I would never deny them any food.  If there is no fresh fruit for example, we are going to look through their food together and figure out what the MOST appropriate item is for that time of day.  

One more note, because we, as a class, talk a lot about this as they year carries on, you may find that your picky eater is less picky while at school.  If you want to experiment with some foods that don't fly at home, please send it along.  It helps to let me know if you have a goal of getting new foods into rotation.   Please let me know if too much food is coming home uneaten…it can be tricky to keep up with what is going on at lunch time as I am not always in the room but if you let me know, I will make a point of checking up on it.

Thanks!