GRADE ONE

GRADE ONE - Curriculum

LANGUAGE ARTS

READING

(Houghton Mifflin Invitations to Literacy, Rigby 2000)

At Diamond Path we use a balanced approach to teaching reading. First graders will use a variety of reading materials with an emphasis on teaching good reading strategies. In the whole group instruction we use big books with large text to model how to read, track print, decode words, use picture support, predict story text, and clarify meaning. In smaller groups students meet with their teacher to practice reading books that have been selected according to their reading level. The emphasis is on reading fluently, reading with meaning, and demonstrating comprehension skills. Phonics lessons are an important part of the curriculum.

WRITING

Our writing program incorporates writing for a purpose. The teachers choose between shared writing, interactive writing, and independent writing lessons. Students will contribute to class books, write in their journals, write letters, create their own versions of books from published works, and create their own stories. We expect first graders to become aware of and begin to use capitalization and punctuation in their writing.

SPELLING

Beginning in January, weekly lists and some challenge word lists will be given to students. The students take pretests on Fridays and have lessons reviewing the words for the final test they take on Thursdays. The spelling lists will consist of high-frequency words as well as words that follow a phonetic pattern.

For more details go the Elementary Education and Language Arts Curriculum page http://www.district196.org/District/CurriculumAssessment/Curr-Literacy/ElementaryOverview.cfm#grade1

MATH

The math curriculum focuses on number recogniton, patterning, addition and subtraction facts, number formation, number sequence, and place value. Other topics your child will be introduced to are: time and money, graphing, measurement, estimation, comparing and counting. Problem solving strategies incorporating math skills and concepts are emphasized. The current teaching resources are published by Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics and Investigations in Number, Data, and Space.

For more details go the Elementary Education and Math Curriculum page http://www.district196.org/District/CurriculumAssessment/Curr-Math/Elementary/ElementaryCurriculumOverview.cfm

SCIENCE and HEALTH

The FOSS science curriculum is a very hands-on approach to learning science. First graders will be encouraged to experiment and get involved in their learning. Observing and recording data and communicating ideas are important elements. Our three science units for the year are:

Health units help students learn to make good choices, practice personal hygiene, educate students in personal safety, teach bus safety education, and begins to teach children about nutrition and dental health.

For more details go the Elementary Education and Science Curriculum page http://www.district196.org/District/CurriculumAssessment/Curr-Science/ElementaryScienceOverview.cfm

SOCIAL STUDIES

Our social studies curriculum is built around several themes. The units are literature based and we enjoy reading and writing about our topics. The first grade unit topics are:

For more details go the Elementary Education and Social Studies Curriculum page http://www.district196.org/District/CurriculumAssessment/Curr-SocialStudies/Elementary/ElementaryCurriculumOverview.cfm

SPECIALISTS

In 1st grade, we are on a six-day cycle in which the specialist classes rotate amongst the following classes: