Curriculum
Religion:
School wide, we use the Silver Burdett series, Blest Are We. This will be
a consumable text. As we finish chapters, information will come home to familiarize
you with the material introduced.
On Fridays, we will explore information centered on the Sunday Gospel so your
child will be prepared for Sunday Mass.
We will attend weekly Mass or Prayer Services. Our class will have an opportunity
to prepare for three Masses this year. Children will be encouraged to learn
responses and songs so that they can participate fully in this Sacrament.
We have prayer time and religion instruction daily. First graders are responsible
for mastering several prayers. Enclosed is a copy of the prayer card. Please
help your child practice these prayers at home.
We use the Second Step program to practice appropriate social skills and problem
solving. We will incorporate the Talking About Touching program as mandated
by the Arch Diocese of Seattle.
Reading:
The Scott Foresman reading series has 6 anthologies and additional readers.
It is a literature-based program, giving children opportunities to acquire
strategies and skills they need to become lifelong readers. We use additional
resources to allow the children to read books at their own level.
The primary goal is to instill a love of reading and develop good reading
strategies. We want children to become independent readers.
Phonics is incorporated in both small and large group settings. We use a variety
of strategies and regularly use the Modern Curriculum Press Workbooks and
Slingerland vowel chart.
Most reading work will be done in small groups supervised by a classroom literacy
volunteer, an instructional assistant and the teacher.
Students should continue to books at home, as well as read aloud nightly.
Both skills are important to beginning readers. Enclosed is a page of suggestions
and strategies to help you at home.
Spelling:
Children will be taught spelling strategies and phonic rules to decode spelling
words they do not know.
In October, students will have a formal list of spelling words that will be
tested at the end of each week. These words are obtained from phonics, vocabulary
and high frequency work lists. Students will be expected to master 150 spelling
words in first grade.
Children are encouraged to search for words they need in books, dictionaries
and by looking around the room. This way they become, “word detectives.”
Writing:
Students are given writing opportunities daily. Students will participate
in written responses to listening center stories, literacy questions, story
order and comprehension. Students will also participate in Writer’s
Workshop, journal writing, writing from a prompt and creative story format.
Students will be introduced to the Six Trait Writing components. Later in
the year students will have Daily Oral Language lessons (DOL).
Writing is modeled for students and developed at individual levels.
Handwriting:
We use the Manuscript method of handwriting. Correct starting and stopping
points of letters as well as letter size and spacing, will be reinforced.
Students are to write using correct letter formation. No cursive is used in
first grade.
We have structured lessons to practice correct formation. We use the Slingerland
Multi-sensory approach, which incorporates auditory, visual and kinesthetic
learning.
When practicing at home and school, we want students to practice proper pencil
grip and posture. Quality, not quantity, is expected.
Science:
In first grade we cover units on Weather, Insects, Solids and Liquids and
Our Body Systems.
We use Foss Science Kits for the Insect and Solid and Liquid units.
During Science we question, explore, discover and problem solve. We also have
opportunities to work in collaborative groups.
Math:
We use the Silver Burdett Ginn 1999 Mathematic Series. Most lessons are taught
in a whole group with opportunities for small group or individual reinforcement.
Manipulatives are used when appropriate for the lesson. Students may use manipulatives
to help with problem solving unless it is mental math or MAD Minute Facts.
Emphasis is placed on number sense of numbers to 100, addition and subtraction
to 20, problem solving graph interpretation and communication of concepts
and properties.
Social Studies:
Our units include Civics as it applies to the classroom and school. Economics,
History and Social Studies as it applies to families. We also study basic
Geography.
We use the Silver Burdett Ginn Text, Living in Families, Second Step and Talking
About Touching Programs. We also use outside resources as needed.
Social Study lessons incorporate the seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
Music:
We have music instruction on Monday with Ms. Stacy Sjolund. We also integrate
music in other subjects in our classroom.
Physical Education:
We have Physical Education instruction on Tuesday and Thursday with Mrs. Regina
Campbell. Students are to wear proper athletic shoes on P.E. days. Girls are
to wear privacy shorts and have hair pulled back and out of the face.
Library /Computer Lab:
We have Library on Friday with Mrs. McClurg and Mrs. Burnham. Students are
asked to check out one book at their appropriate reading level, the other
may be an interest book. Students must return library books in order to check
out new books. Once books are checked out, they are sent home.
We have Computer Lab on Wednesday with Ms. Stacy Sjolund. We will sometimes
have a print out of work done in computer lab.
Art:
Art is integrated into many classroom subjects. We use a variety of media
and learn about many artistic elements. We study the styles of two masters.
First graders will participate in the Celebration of the Arts in early May.
They will display a portfolio, which will contain much of the art work done
throughout the year.
Spanish:
We will have Spanish instruction on Monday with Senora O’Connell.
First Grade
Report Card and Grading
In first grade, students are graded using standards based assessment.
Students are not assigned a letter grade.
Students are given a number that corresponds to an academic quality.
The goal is for every student to meet standard.
Standard numbers are not the equivalent of a letter grade.
Listed below are the standard number and a description.
Students learning expectations (SLE’s) refer to behavior, work habits
and attitude. They will be listed on the front of the report card.
4- Exceeding Expectation
The student consistently and independently exceeds expectation.
3- Meeting Expectation
The student frequently meets expectations with minimal assistance.
2.5- Beginning to Meet Expectations
The student is beginning to meet expectations with minimal assistance.
2- Working toward Expectation
The student occasionally meets expectation and requires moderate assistance
and redirection.
1- Below Expectation
The student rarely meets expectation and requires considerable assistance
and redirection.
Academic expectations refer to work in specific subject areas. They will be
listed inside the report card. These marks will also be used to many classroom
assignments and projects.
4- Exceeding Standard
Exceeds expectation for age or grade level
Exhibits exceptional quality work consistently
Shows high level of knowledge and understanding
Applies learning to other subject areas and life situations
3- Meeting Standard
Meets expectation for age or grade level
Meets requirement for quality work
Shows knowledge and understanding
Applies learning to other subject areas
2.5- Beginning to Meet Standard
Meets grade level expectations with minimal help, but is inconsistent Meets
grade level expectations but needs moderate assistance and redirection at
the time the grade is given
Beginning to demonstrate knowledge and understanding
2- Working Toward Standard
Meets some expectation for age or grade level
Meets some requirement for quality work
Demonstrates some knowledge and understanding
Requires extra time, instruction, assistance and practice
1- Below Standard
Not yet meeting expectation for age or grade level
Seldom meets requirement for quality work
Needs more exposure to develop knowledge and understanding
Requires an extended amount of time, instruction, assistance and practice
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