First grade

The first grade program endeavors to create a classroom atmosphere that nurtures the child’s self-esteem and enhances her enthusiasm for learning. To reach these goals, a stimulating academic program is provided that includes opportunities for free choice, independent activities, cooperative learning situations, problem solving, and the exchange of ideas.

Language Arts
First grade reading instruction incorporates several approaches to the teaching of beginning reading in order to meet the needs of a variety of learning styles and readiness levels. We include phonemic and phonics instruction, leveled readers, skill development, whole language experiences, and individualized independent reading. The McGraw-Hill Reading Program is used in whole and small group sessions, which include phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, silent and oral reading, and discussion and analysis of the material. Whole language involves listening, oral, and choral reading and interpreting stories through creative writing, drama, art projects, and games.

Written Expression: As reading skills develop, creative writing becomes an increasingly important aspect of the first grade curriculum. Various forms of writing are integrated into our program, including simple stories, letters, poems, and expository writing. Emphasis is placed on creativity and fluency rather than the mechanics of writing, and developmental spelling is encouraged.

Handwriting: We use the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum. Current research supports this approach to handwriting instruction, which focuses on consistent letter formation to establish automaticity, thus enabling students to concentrate on expression of thought instead of letter formation. This program has an important kinesthetic component that links the eyes, hands, and brain together to establish the building blocks for consistent and comfortable letter formation.

Social Studies
In the first grade the overall theme is a child’s world in time, place and community. Topics are based upon this overarching theme and are interwoven with first grade language arts curriculum and special classes. Areas of study are introduced through literature, and expanded with discussion, writing, art projects, field trips, and a variety of hands-on activities. Social studies and science topics include self, community, habitat, environments, the water ecosystem, the solar system, and country studies.

Mathematics
The first grade curriculum follows the Houghton Mifflin Mathematics Program and is supplemented by other programs. Skills covered include counting and understanding numbers to 100, number patterns, whole number computation to twenty, solving simple number stories, measurement with rulers, tape measures, balances, and thermometers. Other skills include telling time to the half-hour, counting small groups of coins, exploring geometrical shapes, and recording data with simple graphs and tallies. Concepts are introduced and reinforced through sharing and discussion, hands-on projects, and small group games and activities. In addition to the Houghton Mifflin Mathematics Program there are daily calendar activities and seasonal studies drawn from a variety of other sources, which enrich and expand on the skills introduced throughout the year.

Class Meetings
Social and emotional issues are addressed in weekly class meetings during which students discuss a variety of current concerns. Discussion topics include managing friendships, social interactions, playground conflicts, classroom challenges and successes, and other student- generated subjects that can be examined in the group problem-solving format. Special care is taken to avoid blame and to find consensus while exploring positive approaches to common problems.

Homework
There is no regularly assigned homework in first grade, but the students will occasionally be asked to bring in items for class projects.