Ms. Bonnie's Class
When you enter Ms. Bonnie’s “Explorers” class for the 4-5 year olds, you might first notice the big tree with hanging vines over the reading area. As you look around, you will also see a room filled with a variety of building materials, books, a puppet theater, a sand/water table, a dramatic play area, science areas, math/literacy games and manipulatives, computers, art materials, music, personal cubbies and tables where children can draw, write, and work. This interactive environment encourages community and supports a young child’s natural curiosity, creativity and desire to learn.

The Explorers ease into the day with Morning Meeting -  a relaxed time when the children greet each other and their teacher, share “Headline News,” give compliments, discuss problems, talk about the weather, sing, go over the schedule for the day, and do Calendar Math (days of the week, counting, comparing, etc). Free exploration follows morning meeting – an hour of time when children can choose the avenues they want to explore.

Literature Components are woven across the curriculum and are supported by a wealth of printed materials such as books, charts, poems, letters, listening centers, writing materials, and big books that are in the classroom. Every day the children are read to and with; they participate in shared reading with predictable big books, story-time and book discussions, and, if appropriate, guided reading. The students work together to act out stories, create new ones, write poems and songs, illustrate class books, and put on plays and puppet shows. They work independently in literacy centers and play a variety of literacy games. The Explorers also participate in Zoo Phonics -- a fun musical-movement program which turns learning the alphabet, spelling, and reading from an abstract left-brain activity into a concrete right-brain activity. Explorers who already read benefit from and enjoy reinforcing and strengthening his/her basic reading skills using this program.

Writer’s Workshop occurs two to three days a week. Students begin by drawing pictures to depict a personal narrative or fictional story and gradually, over the course of the year, add letters and words. They often share what they have “written” in the Authors Chair.

Math Time is scheduled three times a week and begins with a mini-lesson followed by hands-on math exploration with a variety of manipulatives and games. These activities cover number sense, graphing, sorting, comparing, patterns, shapes, adding, subtracting, ordering, tallying, measuring, money and time. Math is incorporated into computers and science as well.

Science activities occur most days and encourage the innate curiosity that children have about the world around them. The students develop observational skills by exploring, comparing/ contrasting, classifying and making inquiries and deductions.

Focus Teachers provide wellness/health, art, music and science instruction. The Explorers also enjoy field trips and school assembly programs centered around cultural, scientific and community service projects.

Some quiet time is set aside each day after lunch. Time is also scheduled at the end of the day for more Free Exploration. Art is an option during this time. The day ends with everyone on the mat for a story, songs and good byes.