Gerrish-Higgins School District

Our Mission Statement Kathy Rees, Principal St. Helen Elementary School
Tracey Znamer, Teacher 1350 N. St. Helen Rd.
The Great Start Readiness Program provides a variety of Marci Howey, Teacher St. Helen, Michigan 48656
READINESS learning experiences enabling children to succeed and (989) 275-6690
pursue life long learning. The curriculum is based on the
Dress independently needs of each child at their own developmental level using
Meets own needs (using bathroom, hygiene) a play-based approach. The learning environment focuses
Able to recognize 10 basic colors (white, brown, black, on the child, as a whole, and provides growth and
green, red, yellow, orange, purple, blue and pink) development in these five areas: social, emotional,
Follows daily routine physical, cognitive, and creative. The Michigan School
Solves simple problems Readiness Program is a cooperative venture between
Participates in group setting home, school and the community.
Makes appropriate choices
Follows directions
Can separate from parent/caregiver

TECHNOLOGY

The following equipment will be introduced:

Computer/mouse skills
Tape recorder/headphones
Calculator

Great Start Readiness Program

Core Curriculum Standards

Developed March 1999

Revised April 2008

Dr. Millie Millgren, Superintendent

Board of Education Office
702 Lake Street
Roscommon, MI 48653
517-275-6600
*The following concepts, skills and topics will be MATHEMATICS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
introduced:
Recognize numbers 0-10 Controls voice volume
COMMUNICATION ARTS Counts orally to 20 Observes school rules
Counts items to 10 Demonstrates self-control
Identify four basic shapes Plays cooperatively with others
Pre-reading Extends and creates patterns Respects others' property, rights and feelings
Works left-to-right Participates in classroom activities
Sorts objects by two attributes
Alphabet awareness Understands non-verbal communication
Estimation awareness
Recognizes letters in first name
Develop book awareness (front, back, and title) Money awareness
Author awareness Measurement (big/small; heavy/light; more/less)
Understands main idea of story
Understands elements of story (who, when, etc.) MOTOR DEVELOPMENT
Develops an understanding that print carries meaning
Identify environmental print Fine Motor Skills
Exposure to nursery rhymes, folk tales and fairy tales Uses scissors
Identify between fiction and nonfiction SOCIAL STUDIES
Completes puzzles
Sequences up to 3 events Able to lace
Myself
Myself and Family Writes first name
Myself and Others Strings beads
Writing Myself and School Places pegs in pegboard
Writes first name Seasonal Topics Able to trace
Use “scribble writing” Our Community Has appropriate pencil grasp
Express ideas through drawing
Gross Motor Skills
Speaking / Listening Hops on 1 foot
Enjoy listening to stories Hops on 2 feet
Clearly expresses themselves verbally Alternates feet on steps
Retells stories in a variety of ways SCIENCE Runs with control over speed and direction
Tells original stories Able to catch, throw and kick a ball
Can hear rhyming words Our body
The Five Senses
Living and non-living things
Weather and Seasons
Exploring Science Tools