Curriculum

English Language Arts

In first grade, the children interact with literature in a variety of ways. Our balanced Literacy program includes:

- Read Aloud Stories

- Guided Reading in Small groups

- Shared Reading

- Independent Reading

- Shared Writing

- Journal Writing

- The Writing Process

Fundations/Spelling

Our Spelling Program is called "Fundations". This is a systematic and explicit approach to reading and spelling with phonics.

Rather than your child being asked to memorize a list of words each week, your child will be learning Spelling Rules.

Your child will have a weekly Fundations packet to reinforce the rules we are learning in class.

Each week, we will also be learning a few "Trick Words". These are words that do not follow rules of the English language.

These are high frequency words that we encourage the children to learn to spell by memorization to help them in their reading and writing.

Mathematics

Your first grader will be using a variety of materials to learn many new math concepts this year.

We use the series called "Big Ideas Math", which uses an exploratory approach to engage students inquiring minds through rich explorations and in-class problem solving.

Some of the exciting topics of study include addition and subtraction, time, money, measurement, and geometry.

Science

Science 21 The program's major emphasis is on investigations that are student directed and relevant to students' everyday lives.

The program's main focus is on hands-on, inquiry-based science, and math, language arts and technology are integrated at points where they fit naturally.

Units: 1 Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles

The Sun, Moon, and Stars

2 Waves: Light and Sound

3 Animals

Social Studies

In first grade, some of the topics your child will learn about are rules and laws, citizenship, family traditions, U.S symbols, holidays, presidents,

Economics (wants, needs, consumers, producers, goods, services), Native Americans, and map skills.