Cottage
kindergarten
At Marvelously Made – the School for Young Children we have multi-age classes by design. We know through research and experience that not only do multiage classrooms work; they work beautifully. Having a mix of ages, supported by teachers that meet each student’s learning needs, in an experience-based environment where the children are given time, space, and support to build academic skills, emotional intelligence, and social skills is the only way to educate the WHOLE child.
At the Cottage students share, learn, experiment, design, create, discuss, and play together! Our kindergarten class size is 16 with two teachers. The Primary Class (traditionally 1st-3rd grade) consist of up to 20 children with two teachers. The children’s learning experiences are enriched by visitors throughout the year which bring the children a variety of experiences. To date we have had some incredibly interesting visitors including a sheep shearer, fire fighters, a cellist, an airplane pilot, a gemologist, and more.
We also have a music teacher who spends time with each group of children every week!
Our Rhythm of The Day
Rather than a strict schedule we opt for a routine which we call the “Rhythm of the Day”. Our approach to having a daily rhythm allows for a predictable flow of each day while still providing the children with time and space to accommodate conversations and deep involvement in working and learning.
Here is our daily rhythm:
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1. Arrival
Arrive to the Outdoor Classroom to socialize, tinker, and get ready for the day.
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2. All-Group Morning Gathering
Once everyone is settled, we do announcements, birthdays, and calendar.
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3. Small Group Gathering
The older and younger groups split for a teacher directed time that includes Poem of the Week (phonics concepts and fluency), Joke of the Day (Shared Writing), a read aloud, and other literacy components.
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4. Morning Work Hour
Child Initiated with purposeful invitations to play and learn.
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5. Snack + Outdoor Classroom
The children will eat a snack at their pace and transition to the Outdoor Classroom to participate in different experiences that interest them. From building ramps and mixing potions to swinging and running, this 45-60 minute time in the Outdoor Classroom is extremely valuable academically, emotionally, and socially.
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6. Small Group
Teacher directed group time that can include Math, Science, Social Studies, Instant Challenges, or Creative Experiences. Children are then dismissed for the end of end.
Ideas on Paper
Until handwriting becomes fluent (and even afterwards), children can be found dictating their stories, observations, and ideas to a teacher. Getting ideas onto paper is crucial for confidence, building connections, and self-expression. We make time for all of these things as part of our daily learning.
Share Boards
Share Boards are child-appropriate research projects. They are another engaging and valuable way we support interesting and authentic learning at Marvelously Made. Through the use of Share Boards, the children become the teachers as they share information about a topic which interests them with the class. From brainstorming and research to presenting their information and asking and answering questions Share Boards build so many important skills!
Story Plays
Story Plays are another unique part of our Language Arts curriculum at Marvelously Made. Children dictate stories which are turned into plays and are acted out with classmates for the younger children at school. Our Story Plays bring stories to life in a fun and engaging way!.
Marvelously Made is truly a school which makes learning fun, meaningful, and interesting!
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so you can see the Marvelously Made Difference!
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