How we play
Children choose, teachers join in
Most of the morning is play that children pick for themselves. Here is what that looks like.
Loose parts and open materials
Cardboard tubes, wooden spools, scraps of cloth and paper, and paint. Children decide what a thing is for, and the teachers keep the shelves stocked with something new.
Mud, water and the yard
The mud kitchen, the sandbox and the hose on a hot morning. Children go home messy, and we ask families to send clothes for it.
Books, stories and talk
A book corner that stays open all morning, a story every day and teachers who talk with children about what they are making.
The teachers
What a teacher does while children play
Play looks easy from the doorway. The teachers are busy the whole time.
Watch and listen
Teachers notice what each child is drawn to and what they are working out, and they write it down for the families.
Join in when asked
They sit on the floor, build beside a child and follow where the play goes, rather than steering it.
Bring something new
A new material, a question or a book that fits what children are already doing.
Keep it fair and gentle
They step in when voices rise or toys are grabbed, in a calm voice, and help children find words.
Tell families
At pickup, a teacher tells you something specific about your child's morning.
Keep count
They count heads at every change, between the rooms, the yard and the door.
Questions about play
What does play-based mean here?
Children choose what to do for most of the morning, and teachers play alongside them, ask questions and set out new materials. There are no worksheets. Stories, songs and counting happen inside the play.
What happens on a hard morning?
Children have hard mornings. A teacher stays with the child and helps them settle in a calm voice, and we call you if it doesn't ease. We talk it over with you at pickup.
What if it rains or the weather turns?
We go out when it is dry and cool enough, and we play indoors when it is not. When the weather closes the school, we text families before they leave home.
Watch a morning of play
Come on a tour morning and see what we mean.