First Grade Curriculum Overview
2017-2018
Routines
First Graders quickly learn to become independent, responsible students. Arrival begins in the foyer of the MacLane House where students place backpacks and coats, say their goodbyes and then enter the classroom ready to begin their day. A daily morning arrival message guides students in their morning routine and signing in and completing an assignment is a consistent part of their morning responsibility. First Graders have weekly jobs which they take responsibility for throughout the school day. A daily classroom meeting time (Responsive Classroom) happens each morning with children gathering on the rug to engage in a morning greeting, songs, games, and the reading of our morning message.
Math
Primary Mathematics (Standards Edition) from Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) is our text. Primary Mathematics is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in mathematics through moving students from the concrete to the pictorial to the abstract. The program’s emphasis on metacognition teaches students to think deeply about mathematics to the “why,” not just the “how.” Skills include numbers to 100, number bonds, addition, subtraction, position, shapes, length, weight, capacity, comparing numbers, graphs, multiplication, division, halves and fourths, time and money. First Graders also begin each math time with “Focus on Math.” During this time children engage in calendar, number line, days in school, place value, tally marks, telling time and money activities.
Reading
We seek to foster a love of reading in each child. We use a literature-rich, phonics-based program that includes leveled books and ongoing assessments. Author Study exposes students to the natural language of authors as texts are read aloud during daily Read Aloud time. Children read individually, with partners, and in small flexible groups to practice phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary and comprehension skills. A variety of genre, big books, books on tape and audio-visual materials in the classroom help to stimulate reading interest. Children learn to self-select books at their own reading level which we call “Just Right Books.”
Writing Workshop
First Graders write daily. Weekly journals are used to help children increase writing organization, fluidity, and creativity. Applying capitalization and punctuation skills are emphasized in the writing process. The Writing Workshop (Lucy Calkins, Units of Study) approach is used to help teach students the joy and purpose of writing. During Writing Workshop, mini-lessons are used to deliver instruction and students engage in writing which provides time for practice. While students write, individual conferences between teacher and student are conducted to help raise the quality of each child’s writing skills. Spelling and handwriting are also part of the 1st Grade Writing program. Using the spelling program How to Spell and Wilson Fundations, 1st Graders are learning to move from transitional spellers to conventional spellers. Wilson Fundations also provides explicit handwriting instruction with the goal that children will develop legible and fluent handwriting, using proper letter formation and spacing.
Social Studies, Science and STEAM
In Social Studies, 1st Graders learn about the world around them, both near and far. Themes are the springboard for our studies. Themes traditionally studied in the fall, winter and spring include Families, Our Town, Our State, Our Country, Our Continent, Plants and Animals in Our World, Seasonal Changes, Leaves and Trees, First Thanksgiving, Celebrations (customs and traditions) in other Cultures, Hibernation, Places in Our World, Antarctica and Emperor Penguins, The Water Cycle, CT River, Tide Pools and the Seashore. Science instruction and STEAM activities in the lab connect to classroom studies and a hands-on, exploratory approach allows all students to be active participants. Our wooded 26-acre campus affords children many opportunities for hands-on experiences as they explore and observe the nearby woods, trails and bogs, often bringing the outdoors indoors. Our on campus “Children’s Garden” inspires 1st Graders to plant, nurture and observe different varieties of seeds and seedlings.
Affective Education
Affective Education in 1st Grade is woven into the day by day workings of the classroom. Children learn to work together, to be aware of their own and other’s feelings, to resolve conflicts and to make their classroom a safe and happy place. The Responsive Classroom approach is modeled throughout the day as we work together on building a classroom community, social skills, friendship, kindness, self-esteem, feelings, values and character education. First Graders take part in community service activities with their Reading Buddies throughout the year. First Graders also participate in the school wide theme, “C.A.R.E.S.” (cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, self-control). This year, our focus is on the ‘C’ in “C.A.R.E.S.” - Cooperation. Here at The County School we refer to our students’ leadership opportunities as The Elmore Leadership Program.
Communication
The 1st Grade class blog 1st Grade News at TCS with Mrs. Treat and Mrs. Weiss contains information for parents. Classroom happenings are posted regularly and information regarding field trips and special events is included. School-wide information is included in the Little Hoot which can be accessed through the TCS website. The best way to contact us is through e-mail kate.treat@thecountryschool.org, and charly.weiss@thecountryschool.org. We check our e-mails periodically throughout the day and evening and response time is usually within 24 hours. Conferences are scheduled in October and March and written progress reports are in December and June.