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First Grade

First graders are embarking on a journey.  There are so many new experiences: expanding their reading skills, writing whole stories, learning the sounds and blends of letters of the alphabet, taking tests, doing homework.  The first grader is making an important transition into the wider world. Even though children may have been in pre-school and kindergarten, first grade will be a new and different experience.

As children begin their education in the first grade our goal is to encourage a balance between development of the whole child and a core of information which helps them become competent learners.

 Characteristics of 6 and 7 year olds

First graders can plan and carry out simple tasks and responsibilities.  They understand that actions have consequences.  They may be motivated by a strong desire to please family members and others in authority as well as a need to conform to their peers.

 There can be occasional regressions and resistance to leaving early childhood behind.  Some children demonstrate this resistance by being “sick” on a school morning or after coming to school.  Others may throw a never-before-seen tantrum.  With parent and teacher encouragement, they grow past this stage.

Friends are especially important to first graders. It is common for first graders to experience intense, though brief, attachments.  Every day First graders have new best friends. 

 At 6 or 7 years of age children are capable of making moral choices. Given good example and clear moral guidelines they can choose between right and wrong. They can begin to form their conscience.

Children of this age can go through many different moods. The first grader generally maintains an optimistic disposition.  They love to celebrate. They have an innate love of drama, rhythm and ritual.

Home - School Communications

Parent - Teacher collaboration is a key to the successful outcome of a child's education.  With this partnership between home and school children will learn and grow in the positive atmosphere of adults working together on the child’s behalf.  You can support your child and teacher if you … 

• Guide your child to complete homework assignments 
• Go over corrected work with your child
• Help your child study for tests
• Keep the teacher informed of any learning or behavior problems you observe at home. If there are any circumstances at home or school which may affect your child (positive or negative), please communicate with the appropriate school staff.

Parents have daily opportunities to assist in classroom activities.  Being a classroom volunteer (pre-arranged with the teacher) gives parents a chance to observe and take part in the child's education.

Newsletters are frequently sent home which share with parents many of the classroom activities and keep parents up to date on the child’s school life.  A  “Friday folder” comes home once a week with completed classwork, tests and quizzes.

There are two scheduled conferences for all parents during the year, one in the fall and one in the spring.  Additional conferences are arranged as needed.  Parents and teachers also contact each other through email and voicemail.  Parents can also send a note in the child’s folder.

As children begin their education in the first grade our goal is to encourage a balance between development of the whole child and a core of information which helps them become competent learners.

First Grade Calendar Highlights

First Grade is always busy – learning, exploring, discovering, growing.  But there are some very special activities which are highlights of the school year: The Apple orchard field trip, the all-school Christmas pageant, the January School Science fair (creating animal habitats and collages), live theater (attending children's plays through Junior Programs).  First graders also give reports at monthly school assemblies.

First Grade Curriculum

Faith Formation
The main focus of first grade is on the concept that God created and loves each person and we praise God’s goodness.  In the tradition of the Catholic Church children will grow in understanding...

• God's Creation                             
• The Holy Trinity
• Jesus the Son of God
• God's Church
• Living God's love
• Signs of God's love
• God saves us
• Prayer

First grade also celebrates the liturgical seasons such as Advent and Lent, both in class and together with the entire school.  Once a month we attend Mass with all the other grades.  Along with all the rest of the school we have a service or “outreach” activity which we do throughout the school year.  This teaches our students to be aware of and reach out to the needs of others. 

Mathematics
Students will:

• Recognize and use numbers to 18 
• Understand and add sums to 18
• Apply Addition strategies, such as "counting on"
• Understanding and subtract differences to 18
• Apply Subtraction strategies, such as "counting back"
• Graph information
• Recognize geometric shapes
• Use Place value and counting patterns  
• Explore money
• Explore time
• Understand units of Measurement
• Recognize fractions
• Learn and apply Problem solving skills

Language Arts
In PRINTING students will:

• develop and apply coordination skills
• print with proper:
  • -Alignment
  • -Slant
  • -Size
  • -Shape 
  • -Spacing

In READING students will:

• develop a love for books and reading
• learn and apply different strategies to help decode words
• learn and apply higher thinking skills to aid comprehension: cause and effect, inference and predicting
• develop a love for books and reading
• identify parts of a story; beginning, middle and end
• identify and use literacy components; character, setting, conflict/problem and main idea
• Identify parts of speech; naming words, action words and describing words

In WRITING students will:

• Identify and use contractions, plurals, antonyms, synonyms and homonyms
• learn, understand and apply the six trait writing process:
  • -Brainstorm
  • -Draft
  • -Edit
  • -Revise
  • -Publish
  • -Share

Science
Students grow in appreciation and understanding of God’s creation through exploration of …

Music

Music is very much a part of every school day.  A music specialist teaches the curriculum. (see music section of this website)

Physical Education:  A PE specialist teaches the first grade.  The children learn coordination skills, teamwork, exercise, rules of group activities and much more.

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