9/1/01
Question 125
Dear Preschool
Teacher,
My friends and I would like to set up a
preschool in my home for 4 children as we live in a very rural area
that is without a program. The ages are 2 1/2 to 4 years old.
I've been printed out some of the wonderful lessons that you have to
offer on this site. My question is how do I know how much time
to allocated for each activity? Also, we plan to run the
preschool 3 days a week for 2 and half hours a week, so how many
activities
should we try to do? I don't want to over load them, but make it
a fun, learning experience.
Thanks,
New to Preschool Planning
Dear New to Preschool Planning,
You are going to have so much fun! Keep it varied, keep it fun!
You will be able to tell from the kids reactions how long. I am
in a 3 hour program and my schedule is approximately:
9 - 9:30 free play, centers (cooking), play dough, free
craft center
9:30 - 9:35 clean up
9:35 - 9:50 story, explain craft, finger plays
9:50 - 10:10 craft
10:10 - 10:20 bathroom, wash, look at books quietly
10:20 - 10:35 prepare for snack, snack
10:35 - 10:55 music, movement, sharing
11:00 - 11:30 outside play
11:30 - 11:40 quiet rest time
11:40 - 12:00 puzzles, music, movement, review, dismiss
I hope this gives you an idea. I wish I could add more cooking
and would encourage you to cook and involve the kids!
Kris
P
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear New to
Preschool Planning,
My class times are also 2 1/2 hours. I start out my day with free play for about an hour. During that time, I call up small groups to do an art project that I have planned. After free play, I have circle time for about 15 minutes which includes sharing. After sharing we have a bathroom break and then it is snack time. That usually takes 15-20 minutes. After snack is quiet time where the children are to look at a book while my assistant and I clean up the tables from snack. When that is done, I will read to the kids. After story time, we usually take 5-10 minutes doing worksheets. Last we take 10-15 minutes for gross motor skills or if the weather permits, we go outside. So except for free play, I guess the rest of the day goes in 15-20 minute increments.
Good luck with your preschool!
Peg
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear New to
Preschool Planning,
The amount of time for most activities depends
upon the attention span of the children. Two year olds have a
short attention span and might stay with an activity for 5 minutes.
Four year olds have a longer attention span and might do an activity
they really like for up to half an hour.
I wouldn't plan to do too many
activities each day but you might want to use a theme to start the
day. The needs of your group are different so be flexible.
You could do a large motor activity, a small motor activity, an art
project, and definitely include a story time. Try choosing a book and
planning the other parts of the day around it. For example:
The Very
Hungry Caterpillar could be the book. You could sequence
pictures of what the caterpillar ate. You would read the book or
do a flannel board story. Make caterpillars with play dough.
Lace around pictures of the foods. Make a collage with pictures
from magazines of healthy foods. Have a free play time when you
could work with the children one to one on age-specific skills.
Have a small snack. Perhaps one of the foods from the book. It
would probably take the morning to do this lesson. You can have
a few extra things planned in case something doesn't last as long as
you thought it would. Good luck.
Jackie
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear New to
Preschool Planning,
I agree with above schedules. Mine
is similar. There is not right amount of time. This is something you
will learn with trial and error. Each group of kids will also be
different. One year my class would do everything in record time.
Another years class took twice as long as the year before. So be flexible
and arrange the schedule according to the children.
Christa
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
