First Grade Curriculum

English Language Arts: ELA instructional time focuses on the following critical area: 

The language arts program includes exposure to a wide variety of literature and content reading materials, instruction in beginning reading skills such as letter and sound recognition, concepts of manuscript printing, writing group and individual stories, and developing story sense and comprehension skills. 

Students use WIT & WISDOM, a comprehensive curriculum in which students read authentic, complex texts while practicing reading, writing, speaking and listening, and vocabulary together to build knowledge of the world around them. It is taught in tandem with Fundations (through grade 3) and Geodes (through grade 2.

GEODES by Wilson are readable texts (books) with specific decoding strategies (taught in Fundations) used in tandem with explicit instructions in vocabulary and content knowledge.

Writing instruction progressively builds students’ abilities to write opinion, information/explanatory and narrative texts. Students also practice poetry and other styles of writing. Gradual introduction to shared and independent research is begun in these grades, including short research projects. 

Social Studies: 

Grades 1 and 2 integrate social studies through hands-on learning, stories, music, play, and art projects. Special projects, research, and exploration may be centered around types of communities and their relatinships with each other, the significance of holidays and national days of honor, geography,  and countries and cultures around the world. Beginning map skills are taught. Grades 1 and 2 are also introduced to early American history and government, and citizenship.

Math: 

MSS students in Pre-K through grade 6 use the Singapore Math Method, a highly effective and internationally regarded program that instills a deep understanding of mathematics. It focuses on mastery through the intentional sequencing of concepts. Students learn to think "mathematically" and rely on the depth of knowledge learned from previous leassons. Singapore math not only helps students become more successful problem solvers, it will help our MSS students gain a sense of confidence and resourcefulness because of the program's conceptual depth. This naturally prepares students to excel in more advanced math.

Religion: 

All students have the advantage of participating in daily formal religious instruction. The curriculum follows the Curriculum Standards for Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and includes Catholic faith tradition, scripture, Church doctrine, prayer, sacramental life, morality and community/service appropriate for students’ age and grade level.

Christ Our Life, 2016 (Loyola Press) is the primary textbook used. Each level of study focuses on learning about an aspect of the Catholic faith and our journey with God. Grades for religious instruction are included on the trimester progress reports.

Science: 

1st grade: Students study Engineering and Technology, sound, light, plants, animals, the Solar System, and ecology using Grade 1 Scholastic Science.