Get a first hand look at a day in the life of a Barrow Street family.
Arrival
Teachers welcome families at the classroom door. Children place their belongings in assigned cubbies and transition to classroom activities.
Open Time
Students choose from a variety of easily accessible, open-ended, and frequently changed toys and materials. Students may choose to play individually or in groups. Children use this time to experiment, make independent decisions, and take turns, ultimately building confidence in their own ability to make choices in the future!
Meeting
Meeting provides an opportunity to develop a sense of community. This is where children learn how to share their ideas and listen to the ideas of others.
Children play on the roof, gym, or track with a wide variety of age-appropriate equipment, games, and materials. Our rooftop playground features a jungle gym, play house, and garden where students refine their gross motor skills, learn how to cultivate plants, and enjoy the fresh air! In addition to outdoor equipment, our indoor gym space allows children the opportunity to play with balls, hoops, mats, balance beams, games, basketball, and more. Our tricycle track overlooks our gym, providing a unique space for children to explore on three wheels!
Children enjoy a rotating weekly selection of “specials” that can include pottery, music, movement, art, science, or a workshop with the American Ballet Theatre.
Children are given a variety of healthy snacks such as fresh fruit, crackers, cheese, and veggies. Occasionally, students will prepare their own snacks as part of a math or science activity.
Choice time provides a balance between child-initiated play and teacher-directed activities. Our teachers create individualized projects and activities based on the unique makeup of each class. For example:
Story time gives children a chance to participate as a group and share new ideas! Children also gain an appreciation for the wealth of information contained within books, both as a way to learn language and as a source for imagination. Teachers can select from Barrow Street’s extensive library of books and poems in order to tailor story-telling experiences and projects to the interests of the children in their class.
Before the day ends, we take time to talk about what the children learned and we discuss the best ways to expand on this growing knowledge both in the classroom and in the community.