Our Days at A Way
Routine has a fundamental role in organizing the group as well as each child. Apart from this, routine allows for security and the right environment for the child to establish a relationship with the world, with other children and with the teachers.Exploring, playing and interaction are the key items in the development process. Routine makes the child feel secure and cared for and so can use all her or his energy in the right direction.
Free Play
The child plays freely choosing the activity or the game she or he wants. The teacher, who at that moment is supervising, takes advantage to observe the children playing, interacting, talking, listening, etc.
Individual Work
Every child works on one activity individually with one teacher. We believe individual work is essential for creating a strong bond between child and teacher and the singularities of each child can better be evaluated.
Circle Time
Circle time is a step directed towards exploring specific topics. It is created for every period and age group, always focusing on developing concentration and sociability. During circle the children interact among themselves and with the teachers, where they also learn to respect their peers, as they have to wait for their turn. For activities during circle time, the teachers have access to great visual and musical materials, developed throughout the last 20 years. Every 15 days teachers meet to discuss and bring in new ideas for circle time.
Snack Time
Snack time is another special moment for all, as it is not only pleasurable but an opportunity to exchange ideas about healthy nutrition. We encourage children to try everything, teaching them the names of different foods. It is also a time for them to exercise their autonomy, washing hands, opening their snack boxes and interacting with their friends.
Playground
Children are free to play, to integrate with other classes, other ages and the different toys in the playground. Free time is most important for children to assimilate everything they are learning, to develop creativity, tastes and preferences, spontaneity, relationships, leadership and develop problem solving and conflict resolution skills. They also learn to deal with frustrations and limits. A simple and quick look at the children in the playground offers us rich information, which helps the teachers to know and understand the kids better.
Storytelling and Arts
Telling a story is an art and a wonderful tool in the development of children and is also great for the acquisition of a language. We stimulate children to enjoy books. We tell stories every single day and books are always available in class. We encourage them to handle, touch and turn the pages.
Art is essential for the development of small children. Artistic expression in early childhood education is extremely interesting. It forms the individual, the intellect, motor skills and improves the relationship between the child, its group and its culture. It is through art and creativity that children express unconscious aspects, and in consequence allows us to comprehend them better.
We offer many different art activities which should develop the child’s imagination and creativity. They work with color mixtures, designs, collage among other techniques. They use finger paint, paint brushes, role on deodorant, droppers and many other materials such as cloth, straws, used matches, cotton, foam etc. Also reusable materials like milk cartons, pet bottles, which are also a rich source of creativity. Using these alternative materials we stimulate creativity, simultaneously taking advantage to introduce concepts like the 3 Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. These activities apart from promoting learning, appreciating art, also stimulate the development of motor skills.
Paper and colored pencils are always available for the children to draw freely.
Every semester we develop projects exploring innumerable art techniques.
