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Standards Based Learning
In our school we use Standards Based Learning (SBL). A big focus with SBL is that students can self-reflect and own their learning. In my classroom your child will be taught ELA and Social Studies standards then they will show their level of understanding of those standards. Multiple means of assessment will be used throughout the school year - verbal discussion, teacher observation, exit tickets, weekly assessments, and unit assessments. Assignments given are sent home and report cards from our three trimesters show these, the assessments and report cards will have one of these letter grades on it for the standards that were taught and assessed. Above is an image of a mountain visual to help students understand SBL and below is an explanation of the letters at which your child is performing on the skills/standards that are taught in the classroom.
E: Excelling beyond the standard - I demonstrate a deep understanding of complex skills. I can communicate a deep understanding of the ideas and make complex connections. (What is beyond the mountain? Think big!)
M: Meeting the standard - I can demonstrate an understanding of the skills that I have learned most of the time. I can effectively communicate an understanding of the ideas. (I've climbed to the top of the mountain!)
P: Progressing toward the standard - I have some understanding of the skills, but I still have things to learn and practice. I struggle to communicate an understanding of the ideas. (I am climbing the mountain!)
N: Needs Improvement - I have difficulty understanding or applying basic skills. I am unable to communicate an understanding of the ideas. (I am ready to begin climbing the mountain with assistance!)
I: Insufficient Evidence - The teacher does not have enough evidence to assess the standard - perhaps the child was absent when the assignment was given or they refused to complete the work. (The mountain is not in sight yet.)
First Grade Standards
During your child's first grade school year, they will learn many new things! Below you will find the different ELA and Math skills that are taught throughout the year, they each have links to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards website where you can see more information and read the full progress indicators for each of the standards.
Reading Foundational Skills
-Phonemic Awareness - is the understanding that spoken words are made up of individual sounds, called phonemes. Phonemic awareness is an oral and auditory skill done "in your head", the focus is on what we hear, the sounds, in words.
*Phonemes (individual letter sounds) - There are 44 sounds in the English language. We will be focusing on all consonants, short & long vowels, blends (ie: bl-, st, -nd ), digraphs (ie: ch, sh, th, ck, wh, -ng), and r-controlled vowels
*Segmenting words into their individual phonemes (sounds) for example: web > /w/ /e/ /b/ or dish > /d/ /i/ /sh/
*Blending phonemes for example: /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/ > stop /m/ /o/ /p/ > mop
*Manipulating phonemes for example: /t/ /o/ /p/ /s/ > /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/
*Rhyming - identifying, recalling, and producing rhyming words - cat / hat, stand / band
-Phonics - is the explicit instruction of letter-sound relationships. This is where print comes in as students match graphemes (letters) to phonemes (individual sounds) they hear in words, applying the phonemic awareness skills of blending, segmenting and manipulating phonemes to read and spell words. For example the sounds /c/ /a/ /p/ = the word cap and the sounds /c/ /a/ /p/ /e/ = make the word cape.
-High Frequency Words - are frequently found words in text that can be phonetically or irregularly spelled. These words must be practiced repeatedly to develop automaticity for reading and spelling. HFW (high frequency words) are best practiced daily a few words at a time until mastery is developed. There are many engaging and multisensory ways to practices these words. You can find the list of our 1st grade HFWs and some suggested ways to practice them here on my website.
Reading
-Fiction (fake) vs. Informational (not fake)
-Fiction Story Elements - setting, characters, problem and solution, retelling the story (main story events from the beginning, middle, and end)
-Informational Text Elements - main idea, text features (captions, table of contents, glossary, bold words, headings)
Writing
Speaking and Listening
Language
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
-Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction.
-Understand and apply properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction.
-Add and subtract within 20.
-Work with addition and subtraction equations and word problems
Numbers and Operations in Base Ten
-Extend the counting sequence.
-Understand place value.
-Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.
Measurement and Data
-Measure lengths indirectly and by iterating length units.
-Tell and write time.
-Represent and interpret data.
Geometry
-Reason with shapes and their attributes.
English Language Arts Curriculum
Benchmark Reader's Workshop - whole-group and small-group instruction to target each second grade reading standard and teach students to read with grade-level fluency and comprehension
Benchmark Phonics & Word Study Workshop - whole-group and small-group instruction on letters and their sounds and rules to aid in building reading and spelling skills (the spelling component focuses on learning patterns rather than memorizing a list of words and being tested on those certain words)
Writing - whole-group instruction and small-group or individual conferencing on three main writing genres: narrative/personal narrative, informative/explanatory (how-to and research), opinion
Centers - students will move throughout the room to complete various centers where they will work on either independent, partner, or small group tasks related to current or previously taught reading, grammar, phonics, vocabulary, and writing skills; this time will include students working on i-Ready Reading individualized lessons as well as the teacher pulling small groups to target certain skills
Social Studies Curriculum
(Social studies is mainly incorporated into ELA lessons as the curriculum covers many social studies topics and important people, but the below will be taught in isolation as well at times)
Character Traits - how to treat others and be a good citizen
Current Events - learn about what is going on in the world related to second graders
People & Holidays - important people significant to our history, who started certain holidays and the importance of those holidays
Communities - understand the different types of communities and who common community workers are/how they help us
Maps - find out about where we live locally and on a larger scale
Symbols - discover the symbols of significance to our state and country
Other - many of the above and additional S.S. topics are embedded into our daily ELA curriculum
Math Curriculum
Ready Math - this program is through i-Ready Math and contains a combination of whole group instruction as well as center-based learning; each lesson contains five sessions so will typically last for one school week; students go to centers each day that coincide with the skill taught in the whole group lesson to apply the skill independently or with a partner
Centers - students will move throughout the room to complete various centers where they will work on either independent, partner, or small group tasks and/or games related to current or previously taught math skills; this time will include students working on i-Ready Math individualized lessons as well as the teacher pulling small groups to target certain skills
Science Curriculum
(Science is mainly incorporated into ELA lessons as the curriculum covers many science topics, but the below will be taught in isolation as well at times)
Mystery Science - we will utilize a curriculum called Mystery Science for our science lessons, these lessons will take place in a whole group setting and will range from watching brief videos on a science topic to class experiments
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