8:15- 8:30 Arrival
Home Center teachers welcome their students and support them in settling in for the day. Students complete their “Morning Responsibilities”–individual chores aimed at helping students get ready for the day ahead–and then have free time to socialize. Many parents take time to say goodbye during this time if they are unable to stay for meeting.
8:30- 8:40 Morning Meeting
Morning Meeting signals the start to the school day. The entire community of students and teachers gather in a circle, and teachers take turns leading the meeting. Morning Meeting is a time for activities, games and songs. Any announcements that are needed to inform the day are shared at this time. Families are invited to stay and participate.
8:40- 9:00 ChunkaChunka
ChunkaChunka is the first choice that students make in their day. Student choice is a foundational part of the school’s program, and we believe it has many benefits for learning: it sparks engagement, helps students discover and develop unique interests, and fosters student agency as individual learners. This time fosters mixed-aged community building. Students choose an enrichment activity from a variety of options developed by teachers including drawing, building with blocks, cooperative games, sports and more.
9:00- 10:00 Language Arts
Language Arts class targets reading, writing and spoken language objectives from diverse perspectives. Class sizes range from 8 to 10 students and are grouped by age and readiness. All Language Arts classes provide a mix of instruction in phonics, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension and fiction and nonfiction writing. Bridge School’s approach to project based learning fosters interdisciplinary explorations within the Language Arts classroom—cultural, historical and environmental studies projects bring language alive. A sample daily Language Arts class could include group reading of a novel, researching a historical time period and writing an analytic essay, learning and practicing punctuation rules through peer-editing, completing a weekly nature journal entry, or practicing and performing a short play.
10:00- 10:15 Snack
Our whole school community gathers for snack. Students bring their snack and lunch to school with them each day. Sitting in mixed-aged groups, children pause to refuel and reflect before engaging in the rest of the morning’s academic classes.
10:15- 11:15 Math
Using statewide and national standards as guideposts, Bridge School teachers create and implement curriculum that stimulates mathematical development. Numbers sense, problem-solving skills, concrete and abstract reasoning, and strategic thinking are paired with instruction in procedural fluency and algorithmic math. Math classes are taught in groups based on age and readiness level. Class sizes are small, typically ranging from 8 to 10 students, so teachers can develop a learning environment that meets the needs of each student’s unique strengths and challenges as a math learner. Through individual as well as cooperative work, students are encouraged and challenged to explore math topics, develop competency, and extend their mathematical thinking in an environment that is both supportive and rigorous.
11:15- 12:00 Explorations
Explorations curriculum is a project-based, interdisciplinary sciences and humanities course. Explorations is developed and taught by two teaching teams: the early elementary team and the upper elementary team. Both teams design curriculum to encourage students to investigate a wide range of exciting real world topics. Students of all ages participate in a wide variety of learning opportunities that include experiments, projects, group activities, and direct instruction. Students are empowered to make choices about learning topics, project design, implementation, and presentation. Teachers design the year-long Explorations curriculum, but the schedule can be flexible and open to extensions if student interest is high in a specific area.
12:00- 12:30 Big Recess
All students play outside together. Students can choose to play field sports, explore the pond and stream, play on the play structures…and more! Free play is an essential component of Bridge School’s philosophy.
12:30- 12:50 Lunch
Gathering for lunch after Big Recess encourages students to mindfully eat and rest. With the excitement of Big Recess behind them, students socialize and eat in mixed-aged groups.
12:50- 1:15 D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read)
During D.E.A.R., students settle down with a book appropriate to their reading level for thirty-five minutes of silent reading. Younger readers may read aloud with a teacher or listen to a book read by an older student. Students of all ages also receive one-on-one or small group literacy practice as needed.
1:25- 2:10 Arts & Enrichment
Arts & Enrichment at Bridge School includes fine arts, crafts, performing arts, sports and movement. Every two weeks, teachers present class ideas and students choose a class. Making thoughtful choices in collaboration with teachers gives students opportunities to explore their own unique voice: as authors, explorers, leaders, and artists.
2:10- 2:45 Home Center
Home Center activities are designed to promote authentic community building. Through an intentional mix of structured activities and free-play throughout the week, students explore their creativity, challenge their problem solving skills, and practice effective communication in a mixed-age setting. Home Center activities may include gardening, woodworking, sports, engineering challenges, crafting, cooking, cooperative games and more. Students are given the freedom to explore interests and hobbies outside of traditional academic subjects. Ending the day in the Home Center community environment supports the familial atmosphere of the Home Center and offers students the chance to reflect, relax and connect.
2:45 Dismissal/End of Day
2:45 – 5:30 After-School Program