Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP)

Arrival/Greeting Time
Children enter the classroom at their own pace. Parents/guardians are encouraged to stay until the children are ready for them to leave. Children have choices about whether to spend time with books or interact with adults and one another. Once all children have arrived, adults share the message board.

Large Group
All adults and children participate in activities planned around children’s interests, developmental levels, music and movement, cooperative play and projects, and events meaningful to children.

Planning Time
Through small group experiences, children indicate their plans to adults in a place where intimate conversation can occur and where people and materials are visible. Adults use a range of strategies to support children’s planning.

Work Time
One hour of uninterrupted choice time where children initiate activities and carry out their intentions. Children make many choices about where and how to use materials. During work time, adults participate as partners in child-initiated play and encourage children’s problem solving both with materials and during times of social conflict.

Recall and Snack Time
Gathered in a small group setting, children choose work time experiences to reflect on, talk about, and exhibit. Adults provide a variety of materials and strategies to maintain interests as they follow the children’s lead and encourage children to share. Children will also be provided a snack. Family style meals support children doing things for themselves (e.g., serve themselves, pour beverages, distribute napkins, and wipe up spills). Children choose whether to eat, what to eat, and how much to eat. Adults eat and have meaningful conversations with children.