Academics

Grading 

In First Grade the following grading system will be used for any formal assessments as well as for the report card:

4- Student exceeds expectations 

3- Student consistently meets expectations 

2- Student is progressing with guided practice 

1- Student has not yet met expectations 

When grading formal assessments or projects, I will mark student work with the same grading system.  Daily practice that is sent home, but not graded for the report card, may have a check mark, star, note, or smiley face on it.  Incorrect answers will be circled, but they do not have to be corrected or returned unless otherwise noted.

Curriculum

At Trinity our goal is to support the growth of the whole child. This means we are looking to nurture the mind, body, spirit, and heart as we foster cognitive, emotional, social, physical, and spiritual growth. We use a variety of resources in order to meet the individual needs of each child and to reach this goal. The main resource used in first grade for your child’s education is Core Knowledge curriculum and topics. Core Knowledge curriculum encompasses language arts, literature, social studies, and science through its skills units and learning domains. Eureka Math Squared is used for our math curriculum, with daily whole group instruction and independent practice. For Bible Study we use the Enduring Faith curriculum, published by CPH. Fine arts and PE curriculum are gathered from a variety of resources. 

Homework 

We strongly believe in the power of play and the importance of letting children be children. We believe that when students give us all of their day, they deserve to have all of their night.  Therefore, you will have a limited amount of work to do at home.  Eat dinner as a family and ask them how their day was, enjoy your child’s extracurricular activities without worrying about homework, and know that your child is working hard at school each day and has earned their evening playtime!

The only required homework is the reading log that will be kept in their folders to record what books they have read at home.  Only choose one book to record each night (more than 1 is encouraged, just don't record them all). After 10 days of reading at home students will receive a small treat from me. Please Note: If a student exhibits off-task behaviors during the school day and fails to complete an assignment, the assignment will be sent home for completion.

Spelling 

Students will be given a spelling list each week and will be tested on Friday. Spelling words will be studied and practiced in class.  You are encouraged to review the spelling words at home and point them out when you find them in books. 

IXL 

The entire school has access to the IXL math and language arts website program! I encourage you to utilize this program as often as you can and students will be given dedicated IXL time on Wednesdays in class.  Their login card was sent home, but if you ever need another copy just let me know.