Building Bright Futures
Great Start to Readiness Program
Our Preschool classroom partners with Eaton RESA through Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), a high-quality preschool program designed to support kindergarten readiness and lifelong learning. Through this partnership, children receive a developmentally appropriate preschool experience that focuses on the whole child, including social-emotional development, language and literacy, mathematics, science, physical development, and approaches to learning.
Using the Connect4Learning (C4L) curriculum, children engage in meaningful investigations and hands-on experiences that encourage curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Learning is integrated across subject areas, allowing children to make connections between literacy, math, science, and social studies through exploration, conversation, play, and discovery. Rather than focusing solely on memorization or worksheets, children actively participate in their learning through questions, projects, experiments, and collaborative experiences.
At You and Me Academy, we believe every child deserves an individualized approach to learning. Through our partnership with Eaton RESA, we are able to provide additional support, resources, and opportunities that help children build confidence, strengthen skills, and reach their full potential as they prepare for kindergarten and beyond.
Kindergarten readiness is about more than academic skills—it is about preparing children socially, emotionally, physically, and academically for success in their next learning environment. In our GSRP classroom, children develop the foundational skills needed for kindergarten through intentional instruction, meaningful play experiences, and hands-on learning opportunities.
Children build early literacy skills through letter recognition, phonological awareness, name writing, storytelling, and early reading and writing experiences. Mathematical thinking is fostered through number identification, counting, patterning, measurement, and problem-solving activities. Through the Connect4Learning curriculum, children are encouraged to ask questions, investigate ideas, and think critically about the world around them.
Equally important are the social and independence skills children need to thrive in kindergarten. Family-style meals encourage children to serve themselves, make choices, practice responsibility, and clean up after themselves. Daily routines support planning, follow-through, self-regulation, and independence, while collaborative learning experiences help children develop friendship skills, communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork. By nurturing the whole child, we help build confident, capable learners who are prepared for a successful transition to kindergarten.
Kindergarten Readiness
Learn more about GSRP and kindergarten readiness, and how to help children build the skills they need for future success.
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Children thrive when they know what to expect and are given opportunities to do things for themselves. Encouraging independence at home—such as dressing, cleaning up, and following daily routines—helps build confidence and responsibility.
YAMA Tip: Give your child extra time to try things on their own, even when it’s slower. The confidence they gain is worth the wait.
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Preschoolers are learning how to interact with others, share space, take turns, and build friendships. These skills grow through guided play, modeling, and everyday experiences with peers and adults.
YAMA Tip: Talk through social situations with your child (“How do you think that made them feel?”) to help build empathy and perspective-taking.
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Children at this age are still learning how to manage big emotions like frustration, excitement, and disappointment. With support, they learn to use words, calming strategies, and safe behaviors to express how they feel.
YAMA Tip: Stay calm and consistent during big emotions—your response teaches them how to handle theirs.
