Welcome to West Side First Grade! First Grade is where the magic happens! During our first grade year, students will develop the skills to break the code into reading and writing. At West Side Elementary we use a variety of strategies to teach literacy. Using a Balanced Literacy Approach, students use a direct phonics program and phonemic awareness instruction. Students learn best practices with Shared reading, Read Alouds, interactive Writing, Guided Reading and intense writing strategies. By the end of the year, our students are expected to be reading independently. Students are encouraged to develop a lifelong LOVE of reading.
In Math students will cover a variety of skills. Students work on numbers 0-120. Emphasis is placed on developing number sense, addition, subtraction, problem solving, patterns, measurement, time, geometry, money, and estimation. That’s A LOT of skills! We teach these skills with hands-on activities and fun manipulative's.
First Graders observe and investigate our world around us. This is accomplished using interactions of science experiments, critical thinking skills and questioning. These activities turn 1st Graders into scientists!
Together teachers and students create classroom communities that are built on compassion and respect. Students will explore citizenship, community helpers, diversity, holidays, maps, symbols, and economics. These topics will help make our community stronger. Students will also be exposed to Project Based Learning (PBL) this nontraditional approach to learning, allows students to solve real word problems with guidance from teachers. Students will be able to master 21st century competencies such as problem solving, and critical thinking; addressing the motivation and needs of diverse learners which will increase motivation to learn.
First Grade Activities
October—pumpkin activities
November—Thanksgiving Feast
December—Christmas Around the World, Breakfast with Santa, Christmas Celebrations
January—120 Days of school
February—Valentines Celebration
March—Dr. Seuss Week
April--1st Grade Field Trip
May—Field Day, end of year incentive trip
At the End of each Nine Weeks Assembly