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Watch videos to see how teachers use the GOALS Program.
What will my child learn in the GOALS Program?
How can parents get involved in the GOALS program?
How will my child benefit from the GOALS Program?
How will parents benefit from using the GOALS Program at home?
What is the GOALS Program?
The GOALS Program is a classroom-based curriculum designed to promote the development of social, emotional and school readiness skills in preschool children. Developed by Dr. Jennifer Betkowski and Dr. David Schultz, the GOALS Program has 35 lessons. Each lesson is 20-30 minutes long. Lessons use videos, modeling, role play and other activities to teach children basic social and school readiness skills.
Watch videos to see how teachers use the GOALS Program.
Mr. Mack and Miss Green of St. Bernardine’s Head Start talk about using the GOALS Program in their classroom. | Teachers talk about how parents can use GOALS Program concepts at home. |
Teachers share what they think about the GOALS Program. | Teachers share how they use the GOALS Program at home. |
What will my child learn in the GOALS program?
In the GOALS program, your child will learn many important skills like:
- Controlling behaviors
- Paying attention and ignoring distractions
- Being a good friend
- Cooperative planning
- Problem solving by coming up with friendly solutions
- Understanding accidents and how to react to them
- Recognizing and labeling different emotions
If your child is in a classroom using the GOALS program, you can use this website to know what your child is learning and practice the skills at home. Children will learn and use program skills best if you help reinforce new techniques each week at home. Also, you can contact the program developers with any questions you may have.
In 2009, the GOALS Program was compared to the regular classroom curriculum in a Baltimore City Head Start center.Compared to children who did not receive the GOALS Program, children who received GOALS showed:
- Fewer behavior problems
- Greater self-control
- Better ability to pay attention
For more description of the research findings, click here.
How will parents benefit from using the GOALS Program at home?
If program concepts are used consistently at home, parents may see changes in child behaviors. For example, you might notice that your child calms down more quickly when upset. You may also notice that your child pays attention to you and follows directions better. You may also notice that when playing with other children, your child can problem solve independently instead of asking you to help out.
GOALS Program Timeline
This table shows what your child will learn over the course of the GOALS Program.
Week and Program Concepts | Website link for more information |
Week 1: Introduction & Group Rules
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Week 2: Problem solving, emotions
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Week 3 & 4: Friendly problem solving
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Week 5 & 6: Attention & Ignoring
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Weeks 7 & 8: Self-control
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Weeks 9 & 10: Friendly problem solving
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Weeks 11 & 12: Friendly problem solving
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Weeks 13 & 14: Understanding Upset Emotions
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Weeks 15 & 16: Accidents
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Weeks 17 & 18: Left out of a group
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Weeks 19 & 20: Wrap-up
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