The 2’s program focuses on self-directed play as well as organized, teacher-directed activities.
Our 2’s Program is available to children who will turn 2-years old in the current year. The 2’s class meets from 9:15am to 11:15am and offers children a two-day (Tuesday/Thursday) or three-day (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) option. There is a Head Teacher and a Teacher in the classroom, and a floating teacher is available as needed. A maximum of 9 children are enrolled in each class.
The 2’s Curriculum
Our focus is on providing the children with opportunities to explore a wide range of materials and ideas in self-directed play and through organized, teacher-directed activities. We emphasize:
- Language and social skills
- Observation of nature and the world around us
- Expressing one’s own ideas and feelings
- Listening to and sharing with others.
The 2’s classes also begin to develop math, number and science skills. We approach these skills through games, class discussions and sharing books and stories. From making playdough to tending our class garden, our approach is through shared experiences and observation.
A Typical Day in the 2’s
The children arrive and hang up their coats and backpacks in their cubbies. Before entering the classroom, children may stop to clean their hands and look at our picture/word schedule about the day ahead.
Kids will then choose a learning station. We usually have playdough set up at one side of our circular table and an age-appropriate craft at the other. Kids may dig in at the sand table or read a book in our comfy book nook. Some kids choose to pull out their favorite toys, while others step up to the easel and paint.
At the end of our project and free playtime, we clean up together and sit down for snack. Snack time is a great opportunity to enjoy one another’s company, to try new fruits or vegetables and to converse with one another. We will then sit in circle time and enjoy a story.
We encourage lots of outdoor play in our special 2’s playground; stocked with a row of pedal cars and age-appropriate play structures. On Tuesdays, we play indoors in a gymnasium-like setting upstairs; where there are mats, teeter totters, slides and climbing equipment. Some days we care for the plants in our garden.
Our students also participate in regular music and nature activities. In addition, special events are planned which give the children opportunities to share health, nature and cultural activities with one another and with the other classes in the school.