Welcome to 1st Grade!
For information pertaining to your child's class please click on their room number above.

1. Reading/Language Arts
• Students will receive between 90 and 120 minutes of reading and language arts instruction every day using trade publications and leveled books. In addition to the literature, the students will receive phonics instruction, writing instruction, and spelling.

• Every child is an author. Students will be looking at the craft of writing through Daily Oral Language, the writing process and examining literature. We will be discussing the six traits of the writing process (ideas and content, word choice, sentence fluency, organization, conventions, and voice.) The forms of writing we will be concentrating on are: procedure writing, narratives and poetry.

• We will be teaching the children proper letter formation through Handwriting Without Tears.

**All students should be reading or should be read to at home for at least 20 minutes a night as part of their homework.**

2. Mathematics
This year we are using a brand new curriculum called Everyday Mathematics that was developed by the University of Chicago. The curriculum “spirals” through the content. This means that the same content and concept will continue to appear in unit after unit, allowing for deeper comprehension, as well as, reviewing and internalizing all strands.

The strands are:
• Number and Numeration
• Operations and Computation
• Data and Chance
• Measurement and Reference Frames
• Geometry
• Patterns, Functions and Algebra

Students will work in a variety of ways. Students will work independently in a Math Journal. Often we will work together in whole group discussions and discovery and students will work with partners and small groups for games and projects.

Throughout the year, you will receive a curriculum generated Family Letter that highlights the mathematical content your child will be studying. These letters offer suggestions of how you can participate in the thinking and learning with your student.

3. Science
This year we will continue to use the inquiry based curriculum developed by The National Science Foundation. Our first unit (an earth science unit) studies weather. Students will use observation and conduct simple experiments to learn more about seasons, clouds, wind, and temperatures. Students will collect, chart and draw conclusions about weather data. The second unit (a physical science unit) is called balls and ramps. Students explore and discover the physics behind creating ramps and using different types of balls for bouncing and rolling. The third unit (a life science unit) studies organisms. Students will investigate, and observe pill bugs in a terrarium and fresh water fish and snails in an aquarium. Students will also keep a science journal to record their observations and findings. Skills from different content areas will be incorporated into science.

4. Social Skills
Social skills are keys to success, particularly in the class setting. We run our classrooms using the Positive Discipline Theory for social growth and development. We will be concentrating on building mutual respect, cooperation, responsibility, and problem solving skills. Children will learn to be responsible for managing their own success in these areas.

5. Spelling
We are using a new curriculum, entitled I Can Spell. We selected this curriculum because it allows us to differentiate instruction while students practice their spelling and learn at their own individual level. This curriculum also lets children monitor and ‘own’ their own progress. A book of spelling master lists will be sent home with each student along with the first homework packet. As a result, you may also monitor progress at home.

6. Homework
A homework packet will be sent home every Monday and is due the following Monday. Weekly homework includes a writing assignment, three math worksheets, working on the self-directed "I Can Spell!" spelling list and an occasional science activity. Each week the students will be expected to record 20 minutes of reading a day for 5 days. Please note that regularly returned homework is an expectation for all students. If you have any questions about the homework packet please talk to us ASAP.