Homework

Summary of subjects: 

Religion 

In first grade the children will gain a basic understanding of the one true God and his unconditional love for them. The children will learn about the complete life of Jesus and his teachings. They will become aware of the three persons in the Holy Trinity. They will learn that Mary is the Mother of God. First graders will be exposed to the basic understanding of the Mass and some simple prayers. The children will be attending a first/second grade Liturgy on Tuesdays, an all-school Mass on Fridays, occasional Friday Benediction, and Stations of the Cross during Lent. The various liturgical seasons of the year like Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter will also be studied. Every year Catholic Schools Week will also be celebrated. Students will also learn Theology of the Body which at this grade level is an extension of the “Creation” unit. 

Language Arts/Reading/Phonics: 

The CKLA integrates phonics, grammar, spelling and literature to build upon each student’s reading and writing skills. It is designed to meet the needs of a child individually and in a group setting. Phonemic awareness and sound/symbol relationships begin our journey. Students will learn how to identify the parts of a story such as the beginning, middle and end. In their reading they will be capable of telling you the characters, setting and plot in the stories. Each student will learn ways to decode words and develop stronger skills and comprehension. The children are involved with a host of literacy activities. They listen to quality literature

read aloud and then share their ideas enhancing their verbal skills. They also participate in shared reading, guided reading and independent reading, occasionally using leveled readers with various genres of books. Evaluation is an on-going process. Some of the ways that we evaluate are: domain tests, enriched vocabulary words, independent work, reading inventories by the classroom teacher or Resource Teacher, Spalding assessments, CKLA assessments etc. We also do STARS Literacy checks periodically throughout the year. 

There are 5 good reasons to read to your child. 

1. When you hold them and give them your attention you are bonding with them and they know that you care and love them. 

2. When you read with them it will spark them to read as well. 

3. Today’s books are amusing for adults too. 

4. The art work is captivating and draws them into the story. 

5. Books are a way of passing your morals down to your son/daughter. 

Grammar 

Teaching and understanding what makes a noun and a verb is one skill. The children learn how to write simple sentences with correct verb choices. The use of singular and plural words in a sentence is also studied. Correct punctuation and the proper usage of capitalization is also introduced. 

Math 

Our first grade math curriculum relies on many learning tools such as games, manipulatives, worksheets and assessments. The major math standards for first grade include numeric relationships, addition and subtractions operations, algebraic relationships and processes, addition and subtraction applications, geometry and measurement, and data analysis/probability concepts. Math skills will be assessed twice a year with the STARS Assessment. 

Handwriting 

  The D’Nealian style of printing is utilized at St. Stephens. The children learn how

to place their paper properly on their desks and to hold their pencils in the correct manner. Learning proper slant and spacing between words is an important skill. At the close of the year, the students should know how to accurately print numerals, and lower and upper case letters. 

Social Studies 

The series TCI has four units. Unit 1-Civics. The curriculum covers school and community rules and the issue of citizenship. It also examines American symbols, holidays, heroes and some of our Presidents. Unit 2-Economics. It talks about needs and wants. It touches on different occupations and how to deal with money. Unit 3-Geography. The children learn how the Earth is made up of land and water. It covers different types of transportation as well. Unit 4-History. This unit talks about culture. All cultures have a past and a present. They are alike and different in many ways. It also includes what history was like in the past culture and schools. The text compares and contrasts schools now and then. 

Science 

CKLA emphasizes the importance of background knowledge and vocabulary development, using engaging content-rich texts in science, social studies, and the arts to build a strong foundation for reading comprehension. 

  Spelling 

CKLA is grounded in research-backed methods for teaching literacy, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. 

Writing 

  CKLA Focus on foundational skills (phonological awareness, phonics, handwriting, spelling, comprehension, writing) and building knowledge through engaging read-alouds. 

Students will begin to learn how to write using the 6 traits: Organization, Word Choice, Convention, Ideas, Sentence Fluency, and Voice. First graders will also begin learning about prewriting, drafting, editing, revising, proofreading, and publishing. They will explore different types of writing such as the personal narrative, writing a friendly letter, and journal writing. 

*All subjects will be taught on a regular basis. Teaching strategies include using differentiation, and incorporating all modalities of learning. When new resources used indicate an adoption to Common Core, these are only resources that we use to follow the curricula provided through the Catholic Schools Office that coincide with the Nebraska State Standards. 

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Types of Assessments 

The first graders will be assessed throughout CKLA on Spelling, Reading, Writing,  and Grammar.  Math, Science, and Social Studies will be assessed during the unit and at the close of every unit. Religion will be assessed at the close of every chapter and unit. STARS Early Literacy, Reading, and Math assessments will be conducted at various designated times per school year. ************************************************************************ 

Special Projects 

● Service Project (Veteran’s Day Project) 

************************************************************************ Tentative Field Trips 

● Rose Theater (Language Arts-author) 

● Zoo ( Science--plants/animals/living things) 

● Mission Imagination/Omaha Symphony Orchestra (Music) 

*********************************************************************** Grading Scale 

E is 93-100% 

S+ is 86-92% 

S is 78-85% 

S- is 70-77% 

U is 69% and below 

*********************************************************************** Criteria for late and missed assignments: 

If a student does not finish their daily/weekly homework they must take time to

practice/study academic skills rather than participate in a classroom reward or incentives. They may be asked to take an assignment home to complete and return to school.  

****************************************************Policy for students who will be completing work after an absence: 

● If a student is ill, he/she will have a couple of days to complete the 

assignment and return it. 

● If a student knows in advance of his absence, most non-graded work will be issued in advance for completion at home then returned to school. 

● If the absence is due to a serious illness/extended absence, then a plan will be made with the teacher.