DAILY ROUTINE AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE:
Morning Playtime
When children first arrive at the schoolhouse, they have the option of playing outside or with a variety of natural toys, play dough, beeswax crayons, blocks, books, and other toys. Morning playtime is an essential part of our program, it provides children with the opportunity to develop their imaginations, relationships, and problem-solving skills through creative, free play.
After a morning of playtime, the children transition by cleaning up and preparing for the daily ritual of circle time starting morning prayer.
Circle Time
Circle time is a special time filled with hymns, folk songs, to celebrate the season with stories, nursery rhymes, creative movement and more. After this, the children transition to lesson time.
Lesson Time
The main lesson of the day typically fits one of three rotating activities; life skills, baking, or creative arts. Lesson time and the development of life skills help children feel a sense of belonging, responsibility, and accomplishment as they contribute to various life-based activities. From baking bread to wet on wet painting, each activity is directly tied to the season and helps foster community.
Snack Time
After cleaning up together and preparing the table, the children gather for snack time. As children finish their snacks, they wash and dry their dishes, put them back on the shelf, and get ready to go outside.
Outdoor Playtime
Outdoor playtime is a highlight of our day, and we spend at least an hour outside each day, rain or shine, to build resilient bodies and a strong connection to the natural world. Once outside, children play and work in the garden, run and play in the field, create muddy and treasure-filled concoctions in the mud kitchen, and love “collecting buckets of this and that to add to ditches they’ve dug or the playscape they’ve created.
End of the day
After a full day of play, nourishment, fresh air, and gentle learning parents pick up their children outside, and the day comes to a close.
Schoolhouse On Newton 