Finding time for circle time

[playfelt]

Sunnydays my schedule is spread out like yours is. Some days it doesn't even happen at all. My lesson plan for the day is to do something related to a letter, to counting, to a shape, to colours, to a concept, to something seasonal everyday. But that could be commenting on the colour of tea cups the girls are using or counting how many cars have been lined up in a row waiting for gas. It is often individual and geared to what the child needs to learn such as a particular colour.

When there seems to be a lull in the activity or it seems to be escalating out of control as in they have lost interest in appropriate play I pull out an activity and ideally everyone comes but no one is forced to come.

My goal is to actually do something with the older kids - anyone able to sit at the small table sometime between 8-9 am when the babies are sitting in their highchairs having snack so it lasts only as long as it takes them to eat a few cheerios and have a drink. Then they go to bed and the older ones colour or have puzzles, etc. When I get back from putting the babies to bed the older ones have snack and then we go down to the playroom till the babies wake up.

If I am able to get lunch over with early enough we do a session just before naptime that has a lot of music and quick activities that also keeps the little ones somewhat entertained too.