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

Preschool in Fort Lee and Ridgefield, New Jersey


With us, children learn best through play.

Never overlook a child’s repeated question. You might think that they are running out of things to say, but this is just a part of a child’s development they need constant attention. It is very important to tend to their social, mental, and emotional needs at this time because this will become their basis as to how they will grow with self-esteem.

Self-confidence is crucial in Preschool and we foster such development with dedication. For that, we facilitate these preschool activities for kids at The Green House Preschool and Kindergarten:

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 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

9:40a.m. – 10:05a.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

  • Give a signal to gather the group together
  • 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. Hand Washing/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. Bathroom/Clean-up

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. – 2:25 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
  • Record highlights on the class calendar and talk about the plans for the next day

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 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)

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. Wash Hands/Water Break

3:10 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Read Aloud

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

3:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Clean Up and Departure

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

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

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

For inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.