Elements of the Day
| The elements are the big picture that will frame the structure of the daily schedule and the setup of the classroom. The elements will be used in our next meetings as we look at full day kindergarten schedules transitioning through the year, classroom organization, and materials. | ||
| The interactive learning style of kindergarten students must be reflected in the structure of the daily schedule. | ||
| Key elements include: | ||
| ■ | A balance of whole ‐ group, small ‐ group, and independent activities |
| ■ | Sedentary components of the day are separated by the more active elements |
| ■ | Whole group times limited to 20-30 minutes at a time (at the beginning of the year much shorter) |
| ■ | A balance of teacher directed and student initiated activities |
| ■ | An extended uninterrupted student directed time (plan-do-reflect) |
| ■ | As the year progresses, kindergarten transitions from looking more like preschool to looking more like first grade |