Once in the classroom we begin circle time with greetings, songs, stories and sharing related to the letter of the alphabet or topic that we are studying that particular week.

After circle time, Teacher Patty asks the children if they want to remain sitting or get to work. All the children enthusiastically reply, "Get to work!" Work translates to one hour of free choice time in which the children may visit any of our preschool classrooms.

Our Circle Room is where children can play with games, puzzles, blocks and a variety of toys. They may also dress up, act on our stage, fill containers with rice or cornmeal at one of our sensory tables, pound a nail into a piece of wood at our carpentry table, and/or visit our class pet Zebra finches. Our Circle Room is also where our arts and crafts table is located. The children are free to paint or create their own art or work on a craft that relates to the weekly theme. This room is also where children can work on the computer.

Our Climbing Room is where children can play in our pretend house and grocery store, read in the library, or sit down to have a nutritious snack. It is also a place where they can climb and slide on our play structures and play with our pretend fire truck. Each room is supervised by at least two adults.

Within the final fifteen minutes of free time, snack ends and clean up begins. The children in the 3-5 years old classes will meet with two other children and an adult for a fifteen minute small group activity. This is a quiet time for parents and children to share a story, make a craft, or play a game .

Finally, we meet at circle for more songs, felt-board stories, and movement activities. Then, just as we greeted each other at the beginning of the schoolday, we say goodbye until the next time we meet.