A Day at Hinesburg Nursery School...

Our days strike the perfect balance between indoor and outdoor play, using opportunities in each unique environment that help us develop life-long skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, self-regulation, and empathy. We take time through the day to balance the “breathing in” moments that may be more boisterous with the "breathing out” moments which give us a chance to listen to each other, reflect, and re-center. 

8:15- 8:45 Children are dropped off at school. This drop off time is rolling and we welcome you when it works best for you to arrive. 
In the warmer weather, we begin in our outside space, and move to the indoor classroom when the weather is colder and more unpredictable. 
While outside, children can start the day quietly with a book, join friends in playing, do an art activity, or watch and wave from the swings or tower as their parents drive by.. 

Snack/Circle Time. 
When we start our day outside, we are hungry and ready for a snack as soon as we get inside to wash hands and use the bathroom. We eat together and play quietly on the Swirly Rug, at the Sensory table, or crafting until everyone has finished eating. We clean up and join together for Circle Time. 
On inside days, we give everyone a chance to arrive and settle in, then clean up for Circle time first, moving on to snack afterwards.

At Circle, we gather together to practice listening, take part in a group activity, strengthen early math and literacy skills, and develop receptive and expressive language and self regulation through song and dance, read aloud, and group games. We usually include some mindfulness practice like starfish breathing, saying good morning to our bodies (bit by bit), and playing yoga games with nice deep breaths. 

Explore
When Circle and Snack are over, the whole room is open for Explore. We take part in dramatic play, block building, cooperative games, crafting, and so much more! During this time, we may work on a project such as painting the many zones of the ocean  or experimenting with potions (color mixing and basic chemical reactions), but no matter the activity, the children are in charge of themselves, what they do, and for how long. Research shows that children need at least twenty minutes to settle into an activity, and a good play session should last forty five minutes. We take about an hour each day for this Exploration, and sometimes extend it when we see great things happening! 

Weather permitting, we end most days in our outdoor space, running, climbing, digging, negotiating, and sharing.  During the snowy months we are able to shovel, create snow sculptures, and even take turns sliding down the hill behind our school. In the warmer months, we make food in the mud kitchen, dig trenches and fill them with water from the rain barrel, practice pumping on the swings, and create new games with our friends. 

During the warmer Fall and Spring days, we often spend most of our days in our newly renovated outdoor space, going inside just for bathroom breaks and a quick snack.