Peek Into the Classroom: Mrs. Natalie's and Mrs. Elizabeth's Classroom

The Great Start Readiness Program is Michigan’s state-funded, free preschool for four-year-olds. It delivers early learning with an emphasis on social-emotional growth, early literacy, and foundational math to prepare children for kindergarten. The Michigan Department of Education oversees the program, with local coordination frequently handled by school districts.

Bloomfield Hills Schools offers GRSP at both Bloomin’ Preschool locations. Take a peek into Mrs. Natalie and Mrs. Elizabeth’s GSRP classroom at Bloomin’ East!

In Mrs. Natalie and Mrs. Elizabeth’s GSRP classroom, it’s time for a large group activity. Students gather on the carpet, stand on their designated letters, and warmly welcome each other through song. Each student expresses why “today is a great day.” It’s clear that students take pride in sharing their joy with the class, as their peers listen attentively and support each response. Then, there is a brief review of the letter of the week: “N”, focusing on how to sign “N”, how to write “N”, and the lines that form it.

Next, students revisit their exploration of transportation, reflecting on what they have learned up to this point. Mrs. Natalie references a graphic and highlights that today’s focus will be on road signs. She encourages the students to think about the different types of signs they encounter on their daily journeys. After a quick review of some common road signs, and the introduction of a new sign indicating the speed limit of 10, the activity shifts to math with an activity called 10 frames. The class practices addition and subtraction skills. Using classroom objects, Mrs. Natalie demonstrates numbers by aligning groups with numerals, often challenging the students to either add or subtract.

Before starting small group work, Mrs. Natalie explains the partner task of “showing” numbers. Each partner group will receive a number and must work together to find items in the classroom that represent that number. An example is provided and modeled for the class. After sitting for a while, the class stands up to engage in a movement exercise of counting to 100 while incorporating different exercise moves for each group of 10. Refreshed and ready to learn, the class sits back down.

As small group activities begin, students set off to discover their designated number. Partners move around the room in search of the perfect object, collaborating and communicating effectively with each other. After students return to the rug with their partner and items, each group shares what they found, concluding the activity. After learning various lessons and covering multiple subjects, students look forward to the next day's large group activity.