Throughout the year, students participate in physical education, music, library, computer class, Spanish, and art. Students also attend a variety of educational field trips.
Reading: The first grade uses the SRA/McGraw Hill reading series. It is a researched-based program grounded in systematic, explicit instruction of phonemic awareness, phonics, and word knowledge; comprehension skills and strategies; inquiry skills and strategies; and writing and language arts skills and strategies. The program creates a literature-rich environment that instills a passion for lifelong reading and a love of literature and the written word. In addition to the reading series, first grade uses Phonics – Level B by Modern Curriculum Press, SRA Reading Laboratory, SRA Skills Books, and Reading Comprehension Worksheets. The Accelerated Reader Program is also used. It is a self-paced, computerized reading management program designed to improve reading comprehension.
Spelling: Phonetic and structural analysis skills are applied to weekly word lists. An extensive use of words in written exercises and sentences is also incorporated. Modern Curriculum Press, Spelling Workout, Level B is used in first grade. Children also alphabetize spelling words weekly.
Math: In first grade we follow Sadlier-Oxford’s Progress in Mathematics. We have a math workbook and a math homework book. In the spring, we practice in adding two and three digit numbers with and without regrouping and subtracting two and three digit numbers with and without regrouping.
Science: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Science Fusion is our science curriculum. It is a very interactive program. Areas of study include How Scientists Work, Technology All Around Us, Animals, Plants, Environments, Earth’s Resources, Weather and Seasons, Objects in the Sky, Matter, and Forces and Energy.
Social Studies: Resources include teacher-made units to correspond to state curriculum requirements and Weekly Reader Map Skills booklets. Areas of study include maps, historical figures, patriotic symbols, and economics as related to wants and needs.
Health: Resources include teacher-made units on growth and change which include: senses, dental health, germs, and nutrition.
Computers: Computers lab time is used for the Accelerated Reader program and for educational games.
Handwriting: The D’Nealian handwriting method is taught and used.