A Typical Elementary Day
8:45 am: The three hour work period begins. Children are given lessons in small groups during this time or engage in work from previous lessons. Looking around the prepared environment you may see a small group of children practicing long multiplication on the Checkerboard, writing a report about the differences between painted dogs and hyenas in beautiful cursive, baking bread and experimenting with how much flour or how much yeast, embroidering a flower onto a pillow for their beloved pet, or having a snack* and chatting with their friends.
*A hungry child can't focus on lessons so children can choose when to have a snack during the morning session.
11:45 am: The three hour work period ends. Children put away their work and help to tidy the room
12:00 pm: Lunch begins. Children help to arrange the tables and set the places.
12:30 pm: Lunch ends. Children help to clean the tables and crumb the floor.
12:30 pm: Outside Exploration. Children have 22-acres of land on which they play. Depending on the day and weather, with the adults, the children may play on the playground equipment, play soccer on the field, explore the creeks, and so much more.
1:00 pm: A two hour work period begins. Once a week the children may have Spanish, Art, Music, and/or PE during this time.
3:15 pm: Student dismissal
The beauty of the Montessori environment is that teachers have the ability to sense the children's needs and respond to them.
Although a typical day includes a three hour morning work period (statistically linked to increased focus and concentration), sometimes the children have boundless energy and need an outlet.
The teacher may decide a hike through the woods would be a better way to start the day or perhaps begin with gardening.