Preschool Approach

Sample Daily Schedule

Children learn best in the context of a stable community group with a predictable daily routine they can understand and anticipate. Each class follows a consistent daily schedule that balances structure with variety.

Each day, families can expect their child to experience:

📍Circle Time – greetings, songs, discussions, and shared learning

📚Story Time – listening and responding to books together

🧩Exploration & Discovery – sand play, water play, building, and a variety of rotating centers

🍎Snack & Lunch – enjoyed together in the classroom community, sometimes outdoors when the weather allows

🌳Outdoor Play – each classroom has its own backyard space for daily play, plus time on our 2 preschool playgrounds, nature walks, the hiking trail, and explorations in the woods

🧑‍🤝‍🧑Projects – opportunities to explore children’s interests, share ideas, and work collaboratively

🎵Music Class – 1–2 times each week with our music specialist

⚽PE (4s Classes) – once per week, focusing on movement, coordination, and fun physical activity

This blend of predictable routines and rich experiences supports children’s growth, curiosity, and joy in learning.

Periodic assessment of children is an important function of a quality preschool. The purposes of assessment include evaluation of the child’s developmental progress, understanding of the child’s temperamental/learning style, and identification of the child’s developmental needs.

Preschool teachers observe what a child chooses to do in the classroom, how and with whom the child plays, and where the child’s strengths and needs are. Using various methods, including informal notes, anecdotal records, skills checklists, documentation photos, and work portfolios, teachers keep track of the progress of each child. In addition, a developmental assessment tool is used to help teachers understand each individual child more formally and comprehensively. The assessment evaluates the child’s progress in five areas of development:

• social/emotional
• cognitive
• communication/language
• fine/gross motor, and
• approach to learning

In addition, the assessment serves as the foundation for parent-teacher conferences.

Parent-teacher conferences provide formal opportunities for parents and teachers to discuss their impressions of the child and address any concerns. These conferences typically occur twice a year: in the fall and spring.

The preschool learning environment is designed to foster children’s self-control and respect for self and others. Teachers take time to know and value each child in their class, and they are committed to helping children develop into strong individuals who work and play well with others. Teachers use regular classroom routines, behavior modeling, redirection, positive guidance, and social coaching to teach children how to manage themselves and how to cooperate and collaborate with friends. Clear, consistent classroom rules are developed for each classroom in conjunction with the children, and these rules are practiced consistently. Logical or natural consequences are applied in problem situations.

In the rare events when children are physically or verbally aggressive towards others, disruptive of the learning environment, or destructive to property, parents are notified and are encouraged to work together with the school to find a solution to the problem. Family cooperation with and support of behavioral interventions is required. Our goal is to provide a positive and productive learning community, and we meet this goal consistently.

At TRS, parents are valued partners in their child’s preschool experience. Families are expected to participate in the Helping Parent role, taking turns each month in their child’s classroom to support activities and engage in play-based learning. This meaningful involvement allows parents to experience their child’s learning firsthand and provides a wonderful opportunity to meet other children and families in the class. In addition, families are required to participate in our Preschool Workdays, typically offered three times a year, to help maintain and improve the preschool campus—whether laying mulch, painting classrooms, or fixing furniture. Other opportunities to connect on campus include driving on class field trips, attending community events, and serving on school committees. These experiences provide hands-on ways to contribute, connect with other families, and demonstrate the collaborative spirit at the heart of our community.