| Reading
We will be using the Pegasus reading series as our main curriculum. It is designed for both whole language and phonetic readers. In addition, we plan to utilize supplemental materials as necessary in order to meet the needs of the children in first grade. As we use these materials, the students will experience direct instruction, individualized instruction, ability grouping, and peer tutoring.
Writing
We will be using Lucy Calkins writing curriculum, which has been fully adopted by the SeattleSchool District this year. The curriculum is organized into seven units, each of which supports a writing unit that lasts approximately one month. The books are organized in a sequence, with each book and each lesson building off of the previous one.
Writing is taught through small lessons (“mini lessons”) where a specific aspect of the writing process is modeled to the students. After the mini-lesson, students are dismissed to write independently. While this is happening, we engage in writing conferences with students on either a one-on-one or small-group basis. Ideally, every student gets to conference with their teacher once a week.
Students will also be writing across the curriculum (reading, science, math, and social studies). We will focus on the writing process, the six traits of writing (word choice, ideas and content, sentence fluency, organization, voice, and conventions), and on various forms of writing, including cards, letters, narrative, non-fiction, and poetry.
Mathematics
The Seattle School District uses the Everyday Math curriculum. In Everyday Mathematics, children develop a broad background by learning concepts and skills in all these six content strands. The first-grade program emphasizes the following content:
- Number and Numeration: counting; reading and writing numbers; investigating place value of whole numbers; exploring fractions and money
- Operations and Computation: learning addition and subtraction facts, fact families, and extended facts; beginning informal work with properties of numbers and problem solving
- Data and Chance: collecting, organizing, and displaying data using tables, charts, and graphs
- Measurement and Reference Frames: using tools to measure length, capacity, and weight; using clocks, calendars, timelines, thermometers, and ordinal numbers such as fifth andtenth
- Geometry: exploring 2-dimensional shapes (squares, triangles, rectangles) and 3-dimensional shapes (pyramids, cones, prisms)
- Patterns, Functions, and Algebra: exploring attributes, patterns, sequences, relations, and functions; finding missing numbers and rules in problems; studying properties of operations (addition and subtraction)
Social Studies
Social Studies in first grade is theme-based and integrated with literature, the arts (dance, movement, visual art, and music), writing, math, and science. It will include hands-on activities, learning centers, and group and independent research. Some of the themes we plan to explore include:
- “All About Me”
- “Our Family Heritage”
- “Our Community”
- “Our World”
Handwriting
Handwriting Without Tears is the handwriting program we will be using this year in first grade. It is a developmentally based curriculum specifically geared toward writing readiness and printing. The lessons are multi-sensory and teach to all learning styles – visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. We will be using manipulatives and workbooks to work on letter formation, reversals with letters, legibility, and sentence spacing. It is our goal to make handwriting and automatic and natural skill for all students. Because the curriculum will be used school wide, skills and practice will continue into the upper grades.
Science
The science curriculum is provided by the National Science Foundation. It is a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to learning about science. Writing about science is a component that will be explored in first grade as we work our way through each unit. This curriculum is exciting and fun as it lets us all roll up our sleeves and become scientists!
The units that will be covered are weather (earth science), balls and ramps (physical science), and plants and insects (life science).
| A Note About First Grade Homework
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Education is a life-long process, which extends beyond the school. Students must recognize that learning occurs in the home and community, as well as in the classroom. Homework reinforces classroom instruction and promotes responsibility.
Students who engage in homework on a regular basis can increase achievement and enhance their learning opportunities. Homework is defined as tasks performed regularly by a student after school hours. Homework in first grade may be assigned for one or more of the following purposes:
- to study, review, or practice those skills or concepts previously taught (first grade example: playing a math game)
- to prepare for future learning (first grade example: bringing something from home to share during a lesson)
- to promote desirable life skills: time management, self management, and individual responsibility (first grade example: reading each night for twenty minutes to or with an adult, and then crossing it off a box for him or herself)
Homework Expectations
As the teacher, I will communicate homework expectations to students, and will assign, monitor, and correct student work in a timely manner. I will also let you know if I have any homework concerns regarding your child.
Students need to be responsible for understanding the homework assignment before leaving school. They also need to take a certain amount of responsibility for completing and returning homework on time as appropriate for their age.
Parents need to help students set a regular time and place for studying, provide encouragement and support, and review with the student the quality of their work. Parents also need to confer with the teacher regarding homework concerns.
Classroom Rules |
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