First Grade
First Graders are the leaders of the Lower Division. They are growing in independence and take their new responsibilities and jobs in the classroom seriously.
Every Wednesday morning, they help lead Lower Division Chapel, serving as greeters, singers, and acolytes. 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.
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
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
Language Arts
- Writing Workshop: Small moment story writing, non-fiction chapter books, writing reviews
- Capitalization and punctuation
- Handwriting instruction
- Writing celebrations
Social and Global Studies
- Communities and neighborhoods
- How to be a peacemaker
- Interdisciplinary study and exploration of Tenleytown
- Map skills
- Tenleytown Block Town Project
Science
- Air and weather
- Plants and Living Things
Highlights
- Fifth Grade buddies
- Building Tenleytown with blocks
- Publishing parties
- Leading Lower Division Chapel
- Guest presentations: families (cultures and celebrations/traditions), relevant careers
- Tenleytown walks throughout neighborhood
- Specials: Art, Drama, Library, Music, PE, Spanish