Peace Arbor Classroom
Students: Ages 6-9 (Grades 1 - 3)
Peace Arbor Teachers: Madhavi Ray, Shawn Harrity, Samantha Klinger
Students come to the Peace Arbor classroom with incredible curiosity and enthusiasm for the wonder of life, for their rapidly expanding abilities, and for their new learning environment. They have reached a new level of development; physically evident in the growth of permanent teeth, and intellectually evident in their savvy communication, quick witted senses of humor, and delightful, imaginative storytelling. Their focus is shifting, from a parent-centered one, to an other-adult-centered and eventually peer-centered frame of reference. They are more aware of the larger world around them, and they are very eager to find their place in that world.
In the Children's Peace Garden (3-6 yr olds), students were mainly involved in working with concrete materials. Now students are ready to begin their journey towards the abstract thinking and understanding that will carry them as adults. In the Peace Arbor, students still rely heavily on hands-on materials, but also are introduced to the more abstract concepts those materials symbolize. Students at this level are also ready to use their maturing imaginations to understand life's complexity. They are excited to learn all about everything, and a common question at this age level is, "What is that?" They want to know it all.
 Peace Arbor students strive to master everything around them. They begin to assume more responsibility for themselves and their classroom. Students at this level are very social, and are better able to help each other in their daily activities. Students at this stage of development are also very sensitive, imaginative, and eager to understand and develop values and communication skills. Fairness becomes very important, and the children need and want to learn how to cooperate better, and how to resolve conflicts fairly and peacefully. The Peace Arbor classroom eases the children into academic studies while continuing to develop life skills, creativity, and personal growth.
Monday - Thursday
- 8:30–8:50 am - Arrival & Social Bonding
- 8:50–9:30 am Morning Circle
- 9:30–11:00 am -
- (M) Contract or Field Trip
- (T) Contract, Foreign Language
- (W) Contract, Yoga
- (Th) Contract, Foreign Language Immersion, Communication Class
- 11:00–11:40 am - Recess
- 11:40 am–12:30 pm - Lunch
- 12:30–1:00 pm - (M, T) Sustained Silent Reading
- 12:30–1:15 pm - (W, Th) Writer's Workshop
- 1:00–1:30 pm - (M, T) Writer's Workshop
- 2:00–2:45 pm - (M) Science/ Culture
- (T) Science/Culture Or Bethesda Library
- 1:15–2:45 pm - (W, Th) Four groups of student participate in two different subjects each day Music, Science, Culture, Teacher's Choice
- 2:45–3:10 pm - Free Time
- 3:15–3:35 pm - Afternoon Circle
- 3:35 - Dismissal
Friday
- 8:30–8:50 am - Arrival & Social Bonding
- 8:50–9:30 am Morning Circle & Community Meeting
- 9:30–11:00 am - Assessments & Silent Sustained Reading (SSR)
- 11:00–11:40 am - Pizza Day
- 11:40 am–12:30 pm - Silent Sustained Reading(SSR)
- 12:30–1:00 pm - (M, T) Sustained Silent Reading
- 12:30–1:15 pm - (W, Th) Writer's Workshop
- 1:00–1:30 pm - (M, T) Writer's Workshop
- 2:00–2:45 pm - (M) Science/ Culture
- (T) Science/Culture Or Bethesda Library
- 1:15–2:45 pm - (W, Th) Four groups of student participate in two different subjects each day Music, Science, Culture, Teacher's Choice
- 2:45–3:10 pm - Free Time
- 3:15–3:35 pm - Afternoon Circle
- 3:35 - Dismissal
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