Typical daily schedule at The Cove School.
While we organize our schedule to meet the needs of the children, the daily routine segments are the basic “building blocks” of a HighScope daily routine in any setting.
Greeting Time (15–20 minutes)
Greeting time provides a smooth transition from home to school and gives children and adults a chance to share important information for the day.
Planning Time (10 minutes)
Children indicate what they choose to do during work time (typically what they will do first). Adults try to understand children’s plans and often try to help children extend their plans.
Work Time (45 minutes–1 hour)
Children carry out their initial and subsequent plans. Children can work with any of the materials in any of the interest areas. Adults observe children and look for opportunities to enter into children’s activities to encourage their thinking, extend their play, and help them wrestle with problem-solving situations.
Cleanup (10 minutes)
Children and adults together return materials and equipment to their storage spaces and, when appropriate, put away or find display space for their personal creations.
Recall Time (10 minutes)
Recall brings closure to the plan-work-recall sequence. Children reflect on, talk about, and/or show what they have done at work time.
Snack or Meal Times (20 minutes)
Children and adults share nutritious food and interesting conversation together in a relaxed, family-style manner.
Large-Group Time (10–15 minutes)
Children and adults get together to play games, tell and reenact stories, sing songs, do finger-plays, dance, play musical instruments, or reenact special events. This time is an opportunity for each child to participate in a large group, sharing ideas and learning from the ideas of others.
Small-Group Time (15–20 minutes)
Each adult meets with a consistent small group of children to work with materials planned and introduced by the adult. Although the adult chooses and introduces the materials, each child has control over what he or she will do with these materials.
Outside Time (30 minutes)
Children engage in vigorous, noisy outdoor play. Adults participate in and support children’s play in the outdoor setting.
