The day
A day at Quince House
The day is built around one long stretch of chosen work. The morning classes leave at noon, and the school day runs to 3:15 p.m.
- 018:30 a.m.
Step 1: Arrival
A guide meets each child at the front door. Children hang their coats, change their shoes and go to the shelf to choose their first piece of work.
- 029:00 a.m.
Step 2: The work cycle
A long, unbroken stretch for chosen work. The guide gives short lessons to one or two children at a time, and snack is set out for children to make when they are hungry.
- 0310:45 a.m.
Step 3: Garden and porch
Every day, in nearly all weather. Children weed the beds, carry water and run on the lawn behind the house.
- 0411:30 a.m.
Step 4: Circle and a story
The whole room gathers for songs, a story and a few words about what the day held.
- 0512:00 p.m.
Step 5: Morning pickup and lunch
The morning classes go home. Children on the school day eat lunch from home together at a long table.
- 061:00 p.m.
Step 6: Afternoon work
More chosen work, a quiet time and the garden again, with pickup at the end of the school day.
The guide
What a guide does while children work
A guide mostly watches. She notices what a child is drawn to, shows a new piece of work once, slowly, and then steps away. She keeps the room calm and keeps the shelves in order, so every piece of work is where a child expects to find it.
When a child needs help, the guide kneels down and asks what the child wants to try next.
In the house
The rooms and the work, close up
Hands at the shelf, and the corners of the house where the morning happens.
Sample photos.
See a morning for yourself
A tour runs on a weekday, while the room is working.