Anonymous wrote:My kindergartner (back in normal times) had a solid 2.5 hour block of reading/writing workshop every morning. During that time the kids were supposed to sit and work quietly at their desks. This included a big chunk of "silent reading time" where kids were asked to sit and read to themselves. It was very hard for my young 5 yo.

Math was in the afternoon in a 30 minute block. Lunch and recess and specials were sandwiched in the middle of the day.

Good Lord. My 5yo rising kindergartner has ADHD and there's no way she could handle that.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at Claremont (k) - don’t know how it was pre Covid but since being back in hybrid, all he can talk about is how much they get to play outside. I understand Claremont has a lot more outdoor space than most APS facilities though.

Ha, my kinder kid is at Claremont too. I also have a 3rd grader. I think my kindergartner is living his best life since he tells me they go outside 5 times a day ha ha.

My kid is at Claremont (k) - don’t know how it was pre Covid but since being back in hybrid, all he can talk about is how much they get to play outside. I understand Claremont has a lot more outdoor space than most APS facilities though.

Anonymous wrote:Our APS school has 3 recesses. Morning (before school), 15 minute one of break, and then one after lunch. They did a lot of moving around the class for centers and some of those centers involved toys. My kids always had a blast.

This is how our es is as well. Two fifteen minute recesses, plus extra recess on specific days. They have movement breaks throughout the day. No desks, shared tables with shared supplies (during non-pandemic times).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was very little play in our experience unless it was math games or literacy games. No rest time or snack. It wasn’t a terrible experience but not ideal.

Kindergarten is required to have snack time every day (except perhaps this year where they’ve switched around lunch times to minimize maskless eating), so this account seems a little off.

It was 4 years ago at Abingdon. No snack, one recess.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was very little play in our experience unless it was math games or literacy games. No rest time or snack. It wasn’t a terrible experience but not ideal.

Kindergarten is required to have snack time every day (except perhaps this year where they’ve switched around lunch times to minimize maskless eating), so this account seems a little off.

No snack at ATS.

I submitted to soon. As of 2 years ago, no snack at ATS but there were 2 recesses, centers, choice time with toys, and movement breaks. And an excellent Kindergarten team of teachers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was very little play in our experience unless it was math games or literacy games. No rest time or snack. It wasn’t a terrible experience but not ideal.

Kindergarten is required to have snack time every day (except perhaps this year where they’ve switched around lunch times to minimize maskless eating), so this account seems a little off.

No snack at ATS.

My kindergartner (back in normal times) had a solid 2.5 hour block of reading/writing workshop every morning. During that time the kids were supposed to sit and work quietly at their desks. This included a big chunk of "silent reading time" where kids were asked to sit and read to themselves. It was very hard for my young 5 yo.

Math was in the afternoon in a 30 minute block. Lunch and recess and specials were sandwiched in the middle of the day.

I understand your concerns.
I wish there had been more free play, movement, and outdoor time. There really wasn’t any free play for my kids. They did get a snacktime every day.
That said, they definitely didn’t sit at desks all day either. They had circle time on the carpet, moved around to different stations, and did movements to songs they learned. They had one or two recesses, depending on the day.
It wasn’t ideal but was manageable for us.

Anonymous wrote:There was very little play in our experience unless it was math games or literacy games. No rest time or snack. It wasn’t a terrible experience but not ideal.

Kindergarten is required to have snack time every day (except perhaps this year where they’ve switched around lunch times to minimize maskless eating), so this account seems a little off.

It's not very play based. And please don't be fooled into thinking that Campbell (an option school) will offer more outdoor time or play. I mention this since you say your child is at an all outdoor preschool. Campbell doesn't go out in rain.

Our APS school has 3 recesses. Morning (before school), 15 minute one of break, and then one after lunch. They did a lot of moving around the class for centers and some of those centers involved toys. My kids always had a blast.

Our school had 2 recesses, a 15 minute one in the morning and then another one after lunch. I don't think there was free playtime per se, but there was movement around the classroom as part of "workshops" (i.e. the independent/small group work time after group instruction).

There was very little play in our experience unless it was math games or literacy games. No rest time or snack. It wasn’t a terrible experience but not ideal.

I know nothing is certain for fall because of the pandemic, but my DS will be starting kindergarten at an APS school (not sure what school yet, we are considering option schools - applied at least - in addition to neighborhood school) and I am trying to get a better grasp of what a typical day is like. We had planned on moving back to the West Coast this spring, but weren't able to because of Covid-19, so he will be in APS. He's been in an all outdoors pre-school, so I am a little worried about how much recess / movement time there is in kindergarten here. How have your kids done? What are expectations for being seated at a desk versus free playtime in K? thanks!