First Grade School Program

A comprehensive, literature-based reading series is used that is one year above grade level. The textbook series offers selections written by award winning authors allowing students to apply their skills and strategies to rich, authentic texts.  The series provides for the systematic development of vocabulary, comprehension, decoding, critical thinking, and knowledge of the elements of good literature.  The reading program also includes enrichment activities such as novel studies, poetry, and a structured motivational program for encouraging and monitoring extracurricular reading.  Phonics and skills necessary for oral reading fluency are emphasized.  Students complete two book reports and projects on fiction chapter books.

The language program stresses creative writing, informational writing, poetry, letter writing, handwriting skills, spelling, and grammar. Emphasis is placed on forming complete sentences with proper use of verbs, nouns, proper nouns, and punctuation.

First graders review their counting skills as they learn two-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping facts through 20, and place value. Students learn about time, money value, logic, reasoning, graphing, problem solving, measurement, and three-dimensional shapes.

Social studies units include the study of the United States and the world around us, communities and good citizenship, and how the past shapes our lives today.  Students also learn about themselves and their families, holidays and their cultural variations, and fire safety.  Map skills and geography are taught with a weekly geography focus.  Some of the units in both science and social studies are coordinated with field trips.  In addition, current events, global awareness, and citizenship are taught with Scholastic News weekly readers.

Science units include sound, light, plant and animal structures, living things and their young, as well as Earth, objects and patterns in the sky, weather, and seasons.  Students engage in the engineering design process with hands-on labs and explorations and participate in interactive lessons in the school garden.

The art curriculum integrates the four disciplines of art education: art history and culture, aesthetic perception, creative expression, and art criticism. Students learn about the elements of art and principles of design, developing the necessary vocabulary to describe various artwork. Artists from a range of cultures and historical art movements are introduced with picture books. Developmental skills in drawing, painting, sculpting, and crafts are introduced. These skills are built upon annually with a greater degree of difficulty as students advance through the upper grades.

In music, emphasis is placed on rhythm, melody, and coordination through rhythmic activities, playing small percussion instruments, xylophones, dances, and creative movement. Vocal intonation is developed throughout the year.

In physical education, physical fitness is introduced with large and small muscle motor coordination skills along with creative, rhythmic, and perceptual movements. Students participate in locomotor movements, team and individual sports, cooperative games, and relay activities, in addition to learning various exercises and ball skills. Health units are taught throughout the year. Cooperation, skills development, teamwork, participation, and sportsmanship are also emphasized.

In the elementary computer course, students will become familiar with basic knowledge of how computers work, hardware, software, terminology, and related technology efficiency. Emphasis will be on developing keyboarding skills and creating Microsoft Office Suite projects. Students will utilize the Scratch Jr. platform to learn basic coding skills necessary for computer programming. Age-appropriate discussions of online safety and proper computer etiquette will be covered.

Elementary Spanish begins in first grade. The focus is on a variety of themes which will be reintroduced and expanded upon in successive years, building vocabulary, communicative competence, and comprehension. These themes include: greetings, family, members of a community, clothing, parts of the house, time, pets, numbers (1-30), school life, food, body parts, seasons, weather, calendar, and colors. Cultural lessons are taught through stories, games, songs, and videos.

The library curriculum is based on information access and problem-solving skills. Students learn the process of using the library by identifying desired books in the catalog, writing the call number, then finding the book on the shelf. Literature appreciation is also emphasized through class discussions. Students can choose from over 28,000 titles on our library shelves and in our e-book collection from the digital Sora library.