. - Curriculum Overview

First Grade Curriculum Overview

Our first-grade curriculum is aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) and designed to build strong foundational skills across all subjects. Here's a look at what your child will be learning this year:

English Language Arts
Students will build phonics and decoding skills, develop reading fluency, and grow as independent readers across fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. In writing, students will explore narrative, informative, and opinion writing while strengthening grammar, spelling, and handwriting.

Mathematics
First graders will develop number sense, addition and subtraction strategies within 20, place value, basic measurement, and an introduction to geometry and time.

Science
Students will explore life science, earth science, and physical science topics through hands-on, inquiry-based learning.

Social Studies
Students will learn about communities, citizenship, geography, and important historical figures and events, building an early foundation in civics and social awareness.

Specials
Throughout the week, students also participate in art, music, physical education, and library/media classes.

State Assessments

Students in Grade 1 will take the MAP Reading Fluency 3x/year and MAP Growth Math 3x/year.

Students in Grades K-2 will take Benchmark Assessments throughout the year to monitor ongoing progress and allow teachers to differentiate instruction. Mrs. Spezzacatena will coordinate Benchmark Assessment testing for Reading/Language Arts. Mrs. Ocampo will coordinate for Math