First Grade

First Grade Team

Abigail Trench

1/2 Reading/Math/SEL

Our goal for the first grade year is that students grow as readers and mathematicians, as well as grow deeper in their faith. We strive to instill a love of school and learning.

There are two first grade homeroom classes, each with a maximum of 25 students. There are two full time dedicated teachers, and one full time aide who is dedicated to the first grade.

1st Grade Info Session Video

Please watch the video above to learn more from our wonderful 1st Grade Team.

Curriculum

Our goal is for students to leave first grade identifying themselves as readers. We want them to have a growing vocabulary of memory words, and strong decoding skills. We work to meet this goal by focusing on:

- Phonemic Awareness

- Phonics

- Reading Comprehension

- Exposure to a variety of texts

Our language instruction is based in the science of reading, using the Superkids curriculum. Our instruction incorporates whole group and small group lessons. We supplement the curriculum with read alouds, Scholastic magazine, the BOOK-IT reading incentive program, and – in the later part of the school year – the Accelerated Reader program.

Language Arts

Writing

Focus:

Personal Narratives
Informational Writing
Opinion Writing
Handwriting (Zaner Bloser)

Spelling

First grade students have weekly spelling tests. Word lists are based on the spelling patterns learned in our phonics lessons. Some of our units include:

Short and Long vowels
Digraphs
Blends
Vowel Teams
Suffixes
Contractions

Grammar

Focus:

Beginning understanding of parts of speech and punctuation.

Curriculum: Superkids

Math

Science

Our goal in first grade science is to increase students’ understanding of the world in order to increase their appreciation of the gift of God’s creation. Our core curriculum is supplemented with STEM challenges to promote problem solving and cooperation skills.

Units include:

Technology and Engineering
Light and Sound
Plant and Animal Structures
Living Things and their Young
- Including life cycle studies that take us out to our school garden for planting!
Objects and Patterns in the Sky

Textbook: Houghton Mifflin

Social Studies

Religion

Our goal in first grade religion is to help students to recognize that they are beloved children of God. We spend a lot of time talking about caring for others, being good stewards of the gifts we have been given, and growing closer to the Lord by spending time in prayer. Our curriculum is supplemented by activities that help us to celebrate the Feasts and Seasons of the Liturgical Year.

Units include:

God is Our Creator
Jesus is the Son of God
We Pray to Jesus
God’s Plan of Salvation
Jesus is Our Savior
Mary is the Mother of God
The Holy Spirit Makes us Holy
Sacred Scriptures

Curriculum: Spirit of Truth

Required prayers:

Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Verse from the Liturgy of the Hours

Each 1st grade class has the opportunity to lead a Wednesday school Mass, as well as a Sunday Mass.

Specialists

Art (twice a week, 60 minutes total) with the Art Teacher in the Art Room
Music (twice a week, 60 minutes total) with the Music Teacher in the Music Room
Library (once a week, 30 minutes) with the School Librarian in the Library
Spanish (once a week, 30 minutes) with the Primary Grade Spanish Teacher in the classroom
PE (twice a week, 50 minutes total) with the PE Teacher in the Gym

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