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Fort Lee or Ridgefield School Main Number: 201-944-6655

Preschool Learning in Fort Lee, New Jersey


organized classroom featuring multiple desks and tables
organized classroom featuring multiple desks and tables
organized classroom featuring multiple desks and tables

We help prepare your child for a higher learning education.

Children in pre-kindergarten can already distinguish relationships and are fond of making friends. Sending them to The Green House Preschool and Kindergarten is a sure way that their social needs are met while being taught the basics in preparation for the big school.
Activities in Pre-Kindergarten include:

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Arrival/Choice Activities

  • Transition children gradually to choice time activities (e.g., say, “If you are wearing red, you may choose an interest area.”).
  • Guide children in selecting where they want to start and what they want to do.
  • Observe and interact with individual children to extend play and learning.
  • Work with children engaged in study and activities.
  • Read books to individual children and spontaneous small groups.
  • Give a 5-minute warning before cleanup time and help children put materials away in each interest area.
  • Children will sign in on a daily sign-in notebook.
  • Include a model of each child’s name to refer to when signing.
  • Initially, many children will scribble. Do not correct this. Over time children will start to form letters.

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. Music and Movement

  • Lead a movement activity
  • Teach children a finger-play (Rebus)
  • Introduce musical instruments (names, what they sound like, how to use them)

8:40 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. Choice Time

All teachers participate in Choice Time

  • Transition children to Choice Time (EX. “If you’re wearing red today you may choose an interest area”)
  • Observe and interact with individual children to extend play and learning
  • Work with children engaged in study activities
  • Read books to individual children and spontaneous small groups
  • Give a 5-minute warning before cleaning up and help children put materials away in each interest area

9:40 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Cleaning/Hand Washing/Snack

  • All teachers are sitting with children and lead discussions about what took place during choice time and small-group activities.
  • Have conversations with individual children.
  • Those who finish early may go to the group time area and look at books while others are finishing.

10:05 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Group Meeting

  • Start with a Welcome Song
  • Discuss Attendance and Job Charts
  • Invite children to share news
  • Discuss the “Question of the Day”
  • Record children’s Ideas
  • Conduct an activity or discussion related to a study topic
  • Discuss Calendar

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Small Group

  • Gather will children in small-group activities
  • Introduce new concepts and reinforce skills children are developing
  • We may choose to conduct two or more small groups at once
  • Invite children not currently participating in a small group to select a quiet activity (e.g., toys and games, drawing)
  • Continuing to work on a project, looking at books, listening to recordings, or using the computer)

10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Outdoor Choice Time

  • Supervise children who are using the playground toys and equipment (e.g., water table, sandbox, climbers, and slides)
  • Observe and interact with children as they jump rope, play ball games, blow bubbles, explore nature, and so on
  • Lead activities related to a study or assist games and movement activities that promote large-muscle development
  • Help children put away or carry in toys and materials, hang up jackets, use the toilet, and wash their hands

11:15 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Wash Hands/Water Break

11:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Read Aloud

  • Read a story or discuss a book related to the topic of the class’s current study

11:30 a.m. Half-Day Student Clean Up and Departure

  • Greet families and involve children in sharing the experiences they had that day.

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Hand Washing/Lunch!

  • Sign the ABC song while washing
  • Sit with children and lead discussions about what took place during choice time and small-group activities
  • Have conversations with individual children. Those who finish early may go to the group time area and look at books while others are finishing.

12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Nap Time

  • Help children relax and get comfortable
  • Supervise the rest area at all times
  • Provide quiet activities for children who do not sleep
  • Adjust the length of rest time to suit the age of the group and the needs of individual children

1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Read Aloud

  • Read or involve children in retelling a familiar story
  • Introduce a new story or reread a familiar one

1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Small Group and Limited Choice

  • Introduce new concepts and reinforce skills children are developing
  • Documenting progress
  • Involve children in quiet activities, such as hanging up their artwork and preparing for the next day.

2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Outdoor Choice Time

  • Engage children in independent activities
  • Have conversations
  • Lead Activities
  • Supervise children in activities, have conversations,
  • Lead an activity (sometimes a neighborhood walk, walking around our school property).

2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. Hand Washing/Water Break

  • Sing the ABC song while washing.
  • Have conversations with individual children.
  • Those who finish early may go to the group time area and look at books while others are finishing.

2:45 p.m. – 3:05 p.m. Group Meeting

  • Give a signal to gather the group together
  • Review children’s responses to the “Question of the Day”
  • Invite children to talk about the day, including what they want to remember about it
  • The record highlights the class calendar and talks about the plans for the next day

3:05 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Music and Movement

  • Lead a movement activity

3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Clean Up and Departure

  • Greet families and involve children in sharing the experiences they had that day.

3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Extended Care Students Only

  • Outdoor Play/Gym-Indoor Play, Story time, music, movement activity.

Get your kids ready to head on to bigger learning challenges! Call us and let them attend pre-kindergarten for the next school opening. You can reach us at 201-944-6655.