The Daily Schedule, or Time to Grow
Oakland Montessori School (OMS) is dedicated to the balanced, whole child – challenging them to learn while helping stretch them socially, creatively and physically. Your children are so young for a very short time and during this time they change daily. The more you understand, the easier it will be to live in the moment, and the better you can support their work.
Hours
A key benefit of OMS is its flexible schedules designed to meet child and family needs; we have a wide range of schedules to suit, from three mornings to full time, five days a week. Many children begin with three mornings and add hours and days as they become adjusted. Standard options include three, four, and five days, and hours ranging from 8:30-12:30, 8:30-3:00, and 8:30-5:00. Extended morning care is available from 7:30-8:30.
Days
The day’s preschool schedule varies according to the needs of the class. There is usually a group meeting (a “circle”) for lessons, sharing, songs, and discussion. The children chose their work from the shelf and can choose to work alone or together. Many of the lessons are learned by repetitive manipulation of the Montessori materials, and at times an older child or teacher may assist.
The children’s work falls into five Montessori categories: Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, and Cultural Subjects. There is also time for group activities such as music, physical education, art, play, snack, and quiet time.
The day at OMS generally proceeds as follows:
- 7:30-8:30 Morning daycare
- 9:00 Morning circle
- 8:30-11:30 Morning work period
- 10:30-12:00 Outside time
- 12:00 Lunch; children bring their own healthy lunches and continue to play outside afterward
- 12:30 Afternoon work period for older children; naptime for children who still nap
- 3:00 School day ends; nappers wake. The afternoon continues with snack and outside playtime
- 4:30 Afternoon quiet time
- 5:00 End of the day at OMS
The toddler day is similar, but with added modifications for smaller children: a shorter work period, communal snack at 9:45, more time outdoors, and earlier lunch and nap times.
Special Classes
There are three additional educational Oakland Montessori School preschool programs per week: music with Music Together on Tuesdays; gymnastics with Fitness In Transit on Wednesdays; and art in our dedicated art studio one morning per week.
School Year
Browse our calendar.
Summer Program
OMS provides a summer program in June and July in two-week sessions. The summer is relaxed yet enriching – filled with cooking, outside play, and fun. Because of its calmer nature, the summer program also provides a nice way for incoming children to transition to the fall session. Our summer application for next summer will be available in the spring.
Field Trips
We take walks to our neighborhood library and park.
Other field trips are taken with parent participation. All preschoolers may go on all field trips; toddlers may attend with a parent. Regular destinations include the Smith Family Farm Pumpkin Patch in Brentwood and San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall for Kids’ Concerts.