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First Grade

In First Grade, students explore their community, build friendships with Fifth Grade buddies, and grow as writers by publishing their own work. It's a year filled with curiosity, creativity, and meaningful learning.

girl reading a book with teacher
A highlight of First Grade is their interdisciplinary unit on Tenleytown which involves the study of our wider community through research and walking field trips to different sites. Students write about their experiences and use math and social studies skills to create maps and 3D representations of the area.
boy counting

Mathematics

  • Place value to 100
  • Identify patterns on the hundreds chart
  • Addition and subtraction facts within 20
  • Time to the hour and half hour
  • 2D and 3D shapes
  • Measurement with standard and non-standard units
  • Student-led investigations
     
girl reading a book

Reading

  • Reading Workshop: building reading habits, story elements, non-fiction
  • Phonics instruction using Orton Gillingham approach
  • Individualization based on reading level and interest
  • Reading comprehension strategies
  • Expand sight word recognition
     
boy working in the writing workshop

Language Arts

  • Writing Workshop: Small moment story writing, non-fiction chapter books, writing reviews
  • Capitalization and punctuation
  • Handwriting instruction 
  • Writing celebrations
Wooden Block town made by student

Social and Global Studies

  • Communities and neighborhoods
  • How to be a peacemaker
  • Interdisciplinary study and exploration of Tenleytown
  • Map skills 
  • Tenleytown Block Town Project
class learning about plants

Science

  • Air and weather 
  • Plants and Living Things
girls lining up to run

Highlights

  • Fifth Grade buddies
  • Building Tenleytown with blocks
  • Publishing parties
  • Guest presentations: families (cultures and celebrations/traditions), relevant careers
  • Tenleytown walks throughout neighborhood
  • Specials: Art, Drama, Library, Music, PE, Spanish