2. Why are we playing all day?
“I have worked in the school for a week now and had lots of questions.”
I have to park on the street because the parking lot is so small, considering the school building is 130 years old. Then I am in the classroom by 7:45 to start the day with Ms. Julie for the AM group. The group consists of 8 kids between the ages of 4-5. All of them are on IEPS. Individual Education Plans are put in place to support students with disabilities or challenges in the classroom. At this age there needs to be a diagnosis to receive these services, so all these guys either have a disability, delay, or cognitive disorder. This preschool is linked to an early intervention center in the community, and with it being one of the only public preschools the majority of these students are underprivileged and English language learners.
The first thing we do in the morning is eating breakfast but at school.
This is a title one school, meaning more than 40% of families come from low-income households. So the school has the federal funding to provide two meals a day. Breakfast and lunch are given to every student, whether they eat it or not. Since the day is divided into two groups the AM group takes lunch home and the PM group will bring breakfast home for the next day!
Once we eat, we have a morning meeting where we all greet each other and usually sing a song or two. Sometimes we play the Usher ABC’s (video of Usher singing the ABC’s) Then we usually move our bodies around with a silly dance or fun activity. This week we did some yoga followed by a couple of dance videos! Once our energy is out we usually read a book to get ready for centers! In preschool, all instruction is disguised as play. So in a typical elementary school classroom, there is a schedule. There is a routine, set of rules, and structure for teachers to follow. In Preschool that is not the case. One 1/2 hour block can cover reading, math, motor skills, and problem-solving all worked into one lesson. The standards are sprinkled and connected throughout the day but we see it the most during centers.
Centers are different stations of the classroom set up for different activities. One table could be blocks, another painting and in the corner some magnets! Students have the freedom of choice which makes observation and assessment even more accurate. the students aren’t even aware that they are being observed so this creates a no-stress environment. This happens for about an hour then it is time for the last time block of the day and everyone’s favorite. Recess.
There is a playground but due to covid every classroom only gets one day to play on it, so it isn’t overcrowded. When the kids aren’t throwing themselves down the scorching hot slide they are in the back of the parking lot, running around or playing with chalk, some like to eat chalk but it’s nontoxic. Then the clock strikes 10:30 and we have to do it all over again for the PM group at 12! A different group of students excited and eager to start their school day at 12 pm.
