A morning at Day Class

At 8 AM the room had a chill, but by 9 the heater and the smiles of these 15 children have warmed it. We sit in a circle on the rug and answer questions, interrupted by giggles and random video game trivia that both bubble out of the boys and girls as they participate. Each one chooses an ocean or a continent to name on the map, and most of them get it right this week.

I read and they repeat the poem about snow that we are memorizing. I enjoy watching certain children shyly push through their reserve to attempt to say it from memory, while others confidently and happily change the words and find a way to make it through.

Soon we are scattered at tables, a few still sit on the rug, and each one works on handwriting or draws as I read out loud a book about Asian fairy tales. I hand out journals afterwards and they answer a fun question, “What’s your favorite place to eat?” My co-teacher, Melissa and I prompt them to add more details to share with the group and assist the young ones with writing.

I am starting to notice distraction and energy, so we send them outside in the field to play. Even though it’s cold, they all race out. We watch them playing tag and changing the rules to make a better game.

When we are all back inside we make mini clay sculptures: a hamburger, an apple, trees, ninja turtles, a stick of dynamite, a blob and of course a multi-color snake. Then lunch and play: basketball, foursquare, pingpong, sidewalk chalk. Then back again for science, talking about pelagic zones and the creatures in the intertidal zone. What’s high tide? What’s low tide? Did you know that 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water?

The day is done and I find myself folding chairs and looking forward to next week as I bundle up my own children and head for home. We currently have Day Class on Tuesdays and plan to open up Thursdays soon too.