Our students trickle into the classroom between 8:15 and 8:30, each one at his or her own pace. While younger children take their time to tackle their belongings—taking off outdoor shoes, putting on indoor shoes, taking off and hanging up their coasts putting their backpacks and lunchboxes into assigned places—our older students quickly start the day and set up activities.
After lunch, the students clean up their dishes and work area. The younger students get ready for naptime and our older students gather on the Montessori line for individual reading time. As soon as the younger students head for the nap room, the students of the Oak room join us. Together, we read a story, I (the teacher) give a presentation, and we talk about our plans for the afternoon. Individual work time follows in which the students continue with the work they started during the morning, or start a new activity. At the end of individual work time we clean up our classroom and gather on the line again to conclude our day. We take care of our belongings and we get ready to go home.
