Curriculum
Spelling
Students will have one of two lists for spelling (first grade list or challenger list). They will take a pretest every Monday (a copy of the pretest is below) based on a specific spelling principle. If a majority of the words are spelled incorrectly, students will be asked to study the first grade list. If students master the words on their pretest, they will be asked to study the challenger words (also following the same spelling principle). The students will also be expected to practice three to five word wall words each week which will be added to our classroom word wall throughout the year.
Reading
The Daily Five - Students will meet for a mini-lesson based on a specific reading skill and then rotate to three stations from the Daily Five (read to self, read to someone, listen to reading, work on writing, word work). Students will get to choose which station they would like to go to, but must complete all five within the week before repeating any stations (below is a copy of the Daily Five card students will fill out with the comprehension activities they will need to complete each week on the back of the cards). Students will learn to pick Good Fit books (we have many to choose from in our classroom library or if students would like, they can bring a book from home), reference anchor charts, and work independently. Students will also be called to work with me for guided reading instruction during that time.
Writing
Students will have a writing journal that they will be using to answer a variety of journal prompts throughout the year. There will also be a guided writing/writing workshop approach to writing, incorporating various styles of writing (narrative, informational, persuasive). Different types of writing throughout the year include:
writing for many purposes
small moments
revising
celebration writing
penguin research
all about books
authors as mentors
Mo Willems author study
fictional story writing
space research
first grade memories
poetry
Students will publish a piece at the end of each unit, which will be presented in various formats (handwritten, typed, recorded, etc...). All unpublished writing stories will be sent home in a packet at the end of each unit. Parents will be invited in for two presentations during the year.
Math
Math will begin each day with a mini-lesson based on four critical areas (Number and Operations in Base Ten, Operations and Algebraic Thinking, Measurement and Data, and Geometry). Students will watch videos and take part in hands-on activities before working with a partner and/or working independently on a specific skill as well as breaking into guided math instruction/centers. Centers will include hands-on games/activities that reinforce previously learned skills and students will be called during that time to work with me in small guided math groups. By the end of first grade, students are expected to be fluent in their basic addition and subtraction facts to 10. Occasionally homework will be assigned based on understanding in guided math groups.
Social Studies and Science
Social studies and science topics will rotate back-and-forth throughout the year. Content will also be incorporated into ELA instruction. Content areas studied include: classroom community, life cycle of pumpkins, bats (nocturnal animals), communities and traditions, Native Americans, communities (rural, urban, suburban), holiday traditions, penguins, nutrition and dental health, and space.
***A report of students' progress in reading, writing, math, homework, and behavior will be sent home every other week, except during report card/conferencing periods, as information will be repetitive. Below is an example of the progress report.***
Spelling
Students will have one of two lists for spelling (first grade list or challenger list). They will take a pretest every Monday (a copy of the pretest is below) based on a specific spelling principle. If a majority of the words are spelled incorrectly, students will be asked to study the first grade list. If students master the words on their pretest, they will be asked to study the challenger words (also following the same spelling principle). The students will also be expected to practice three to five word wall words each week which will be added to our classroom word wall throughout the year.
Reading
The Daily Five - Students will meet for a mini-lesson based on a specific reading skill and then rotate to three stations from the Daily Five (read to self, read to someone, listen to reading, work on writing, word work). Students will get to choose which station they would like to go to, but must complete all five within the week before repeating any stations (below is a copy of the Daily Five card students will fill out with the comprehension activities they will need to complete each week on the back of the cards). Students will learn to pick Good Fit books (we have many to choose from in our classroom library or if students would like, they can bring a book from home), reference anchor charts, and work independently. Students will also be called to work with me for guided reading instruction during that time.
Writing
Students will have a writing journal that they will be using to answer a variety of journal prompts throughout the year. There will also be a guided writing/writing workshop approach to writing, incorporating various styles of writing (narrative, informational, persuasive). Different types of writing throughout the year include:
writing for many purposes
small moments
revising
celebration writing
penguin research
all about books
authors as mentors
Mo Willems author study
fictional story writing
space research
first grade memories
poetry
Students will publish a piece at the end of each unit, which will be presented in various formats (handwritten, typed, recorded, etc...). All unpublished writing stories will be sent home in a packet at the end of each unit. Parents will be invited in for two presentations during the year.
Math
Math will begin each day with a mini-lesson based on four critical areas (Number and Operations in Base Ten, Operations and Algebraic Thinking, Measurement and Data, and Geometry). Students will watch videos and take part in hands-on activities before working with a partner and/or working independently on a specific skill as well as breaking into guided math instruction/centers. Centers will include hands-on games/activities that reinforce previously learned skills and students will be called during that time to work with me in small guided math groups. By the end of first grade, students are expected to be fluent in their basic addition and subtraction facts to 10. Occasionally homework will be assigned based on understanding in guided math groups.
Social Studies and Science
Social studies and science topics will rotate back-and-forth throughout the year. Content will also be incorporated into ELA instruction. Content areas studied include: classroom community, life cycle of pumpkins, bats (nocturnal animals), communities and traditions, Native Americans, communities (rural, urban, suburban), holiday traditions, penguins, nutrition and dental health, and space.
***A report of students' progress in reading, writing, math, homework, and behavior will be sent home every other week, except during report card/conferencing periods, as information will be repetitive. Below is an example of the progress report.***