A Sample Day

A classroom with a green wall, a teacher engaging children sitting and kneeling on the carpet. The teacher is reaching to a shelf with books, and children are participating in an activity.
A young boy with curly hair is sitting at a wooden table, working on a woodworking activity with screws and a screwdriver, in a classroom setting.
Four young girls sitting on a yellow playground slide outdoors on dirt and rocks, smiling.
Young boy engaging in a string art activity, focused on arranging string and pins on a foam board at a classroom table.

A Sample Day in the 3’s Class

Our daily schedule provides the predictability young children crave, while remaining flexible to allow for a gentle pace and ample time for learning to truly take root. 

7:00–9:00 AM – Before Care
Children ease into the day with quiet activities, reading, and gentle play.

9:00 – Table Activities
Children arrive to stimulating Montessori-style tray activities and open-ended creative materials—often tied to previous interests or provocations for the day’s lessons. Starting with individualized play allows each child to ease into the day at their own pace.

9:20 – Clean Up
We clean up together, preparing to begin the day as a classroom community

9:30 – Morning Meeting
We gather on the rug to welcome each other and acknowledge the new day with “Modeh Ani.” We practice early math skills as we give tzedakah (charity) and talk about the season, day, month, and year during calendar time. This is also when we learn units, read stories connected to our themes, share ideas, play group games, and begin projects together.

9:55 – Bathroom & Handwashing
Children practice important hygiene routines, building lifelong healthy habits.

10:05 – Snack Time
We gather for a mid-morning snack, assign classroom jobs, and then clean up and wash our hands when finished.

10:20 – Center Time
Children choose from a variety of learning centers—blocks, puzzles, art, dramatic play, sensory, light table, reading, writing, math, manipulatives, and “small world”—playing in small groups or working individually. Teachers also use this time for one-on-one or small group learning.

11:00 – Sharing Meeting & Clean Up
Children reflect on their center activities, sharing with friends and taking pride in their work, which builds communication skills and confidence. We then work together until everything is put away neatly.

11:10 – Bathroom & Outdoor Prep
Children use the bathroom and get ready for outdoor play, continuing to practice hygiene routines.

11:20 – Outdoor Time
Summer, winter, spring, or fall – we play outside daily in our extensive outdoor space, supporting large motor skill development. For a fun change and on rainy days, we use our fully-equipped Indoor Playroom for gross motor activities.

12:00 – Bathroom & Handwashing 

12:05 – Lunch 

We begin with a short blessing to express gratitude for our food. 
Children who finish early, clean up, and then enjoy quiet reading time.

12:40 – Story Time
We gather in the library to read or hear a story; this calms our bodies and prepares us for rest time.

12:50 – Rest Time
Learning to relax and quiet our bodies is an important life skill. Children rest quietly for at least 30 minutes, as required by NJ State law, with soft lighting, gentle music, and books. If a child falls asleep, we follow parents’ guidance on waking.

1:20 – Bathroom & Handwashing 

1:25 – Specials: Music & Movement, Atelier

We exercise our bodies through yoga, songs, and movement activities, or engage in focused creativity in the atelier.

1:50 – Goodbye Circle & After Care (2:00 – 6:00 PM)

We regroup to reflect on our day, share highlights, and sing a Goodbye song. Some children are picked up at 2:00 p.m., while many stay for After Care, where they enjoy a relaxed afternoon with a snack, activities, outdoor play, and stories.