To achieve a balanced Daily Schedule be sure you have blocks of time allotted for the class to be very active. This would include your outdoor play time or when you go to specials such as a PE class or a movement class. Balance those active periods with quiet and calm by scheduling a block for Story time, snack, or rest.
Have a mixture of Small Group, Large Group, and Independent activities planned in your Daily Schedule. Many teachers choose to work with small groups during the Learning Centers time block. This is an ideal opportunity where you can do an art activity or mini alphabet lesson with 2-4 children at the teacher table. Depending on your class size and what your students are learning, your small groups might be smaller or larger.
Large group activities in your Daily Schedule would include your Circle Time or Morning Meeting. These are the times during your day where the children are all together doing the same thing.
Independent activities should be another component of your Daily Schedule. Table Time and Learning Centers contain many tasks the students can do on their own. These are activities a child can do alone or with a partner which require no teacher assistance.
A great Daily Schedule will also have plenty of opportunities for children to make their own choices. One prime example when students have Free Choice is during the Learning Center block. This is where students can choose the center where they’d like to play. Once they’ve selected a specific center to be in, there should be lots and lots of choices of what they can play and do! Providing structure among all the free choices is key. Students will still need the structure of classroom rules and expectations while having free choice.
Finally, a balanced Daily Schedule should contain both Indoor and Outdoor play times.