Kindergarten in Boston schools lasts six hours. The flow of a kindergarten day varies across schools, so ask when you visit. Students generally start the day with a two-hour "literacy block" where they work in large and small groups on reading and writing skills. During this time, they also learn to tell stories together and, later in the year, they may write in a daily journal. They often take turns working on the computer. Art and music/movement are built in throughout the day.

Each day includes a recess time for exercise and play. Some schools include rest/nap period in kindergarten. The afternoon allows time for math activities, visits once or twice a week to the school library, and sometimes science and social studies lessons. Most days include "center time," when children have a chance to choose from different fun and educational activities at learning stations. Throughout the week, teachers called "specialists" come in to the classroom. The specialists at each school vary. They can be art teachers, computer teachers, music teachers, or even a drama or Spanish teacher.

Each month, the different activities (science, math, reading, and writing) are organized around a theme, such as a concept like "water." For example, in one classroom, for the month on "water," children learn what makes bubbles and how to build boats; they read books together about boats; and they visit the Children’s Museum’s water exhibit.