1st Grade Program of Study, 2025-26 School Year

1ST GRADE PROGRAM OF STUDY 2025-26 School Year

LANGUAGE ARTS Our balanced literacy program enables students to become independent, flexible and resilient readers and writers. Children read a range of literature representing our diverse world through specific genres. They develop strong phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, self-monitoring skills, vocabulary, and comprehension. Our students understand that a text’s meaning is derived through an interchange between the reader and the text. Instruction is scaffolded so that students gradually learn to read increased text complexity.

Writing is taught as an explicit skill and with ample time for independent practice using mentor text to guide them. Students create authentic pieces of writing intended for specific audiences and learn how to generate writing ideas across topics and genres. Grammar is explicitly taught and is integrated in authentic writing experiences.

LANGUAGE ARTS Exit Outcomes

Experiences that Support Learning

Reading Develop and practice reading skills such as interpreting, reflecting, summarizing, clarifying, predicting, visualizing, and making connections Read orally at or above grade level with speed, accuracy, and expression Demonstrate use of phonics, word solving strategies, decoding, self monitoring and self correction Demonstrate reading comprehension at or above grade-level Encoding with use of spelling patterns and phonemic awareness

Reading Reading Workshop Model Guided Reading Instruction Shared Reading Interactive Read Aloud Collaborative Discussions Benchmark Assessments Independent Reading and Writing Hands-on, Multi Sensory Approach through Michael Heggerty’s Phonemic Awareness program

Writing and Grammar Write compositions that tell a story including a beginning, middle, and end Apply knowledge of sounds and spelling patterns to write words and sentences Edit sentences to include proper nouns Write simple dictated words and sentences with the correct letter formation, capitalization, spacing, and punctuation

Writing and Grammar Writing Workshop Model Genre Studies: Narrative, Expository, Opinion, and Poetry Writing Community: Writing Partners Author’s Chair

MATH

First grade mathematicians are strengthening number sense and building operational fluency. They are learning addition and subtraction strategies, solving number stories, recognizing place value, and comparing numbers. Students are also exploring simple geometry, time, fractions, and money.

Exit Outcomes Operations and Algebraic Thinking

Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction within 20 by using objects, drawings, and equations Understand and apply properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction to solve problems Use a variety of strategies to fluently add and subtract within 20 Understand the meaning of the equal sign Determine if equations are true or false Solve the unknown in an addition or subtraction equation relating three whole numbers Number and Operations in Base Ten Read, write, and count to 120 Understand the relationship between digits and place value in the ones, tens, and hundreds place Compare two-digit numbers using the symbols <, +, and >.

Use a variety of strategies to add within 100, including adding a two-digit number and a one-digit number or a two-digit number and a multiple of ten Mentally find 10 more or 10 less than a given two-digit number Exit Outcomes Measurement and Data Measure lengths indirectly and by iterating unit lengths Tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analog and digital clocks Organize, represent, and interpret data with three categories Begins to identify coins and their values Begins to count coins to find a sum Geometry Distinguish between defining attributes versus non-defining attributes Compose two-dimensional shapes to create a composite shape Partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares and name

Experiences that Support Learning Number Talks Collaborative Discussions Spiraling Curriculum Progress Checks Open Response Problem Solving Partner Work Independent Practice Daily Calendar Math Manipulatives Games Enrichment: IXL

MUSIC In First Grade, students experience music through speech, singing, movement, and playing instruments. They will continue to develop their singing abilities through songs and games. Traditional rhythmic and melodic notation will be introduced. Students will develop their sense of beat and rhythm through folk dances and games. Through ostinatos (repeated patterns), first graders will begin to develop part independence. Over the course of the year, students will listen to a variety of music and begin to develop keen listening skills.

Exit Outcomes Performs both rhythmic and melodic ostinato patterns Reads music notation for basic rhythmic and melodic patterns Improvises simple rhythmic and melodic patterns Accompanies singing on instruments Engages in folk dances with a sense for the beat and other participants Creates motions to go along with the lyrics of a song

Experiences that Support Learning Listening to/singing/playing a variety of music Engaging in creative movement, rhythmic movement, and folk dances Playing instruments such as rhythm sticks, hand drums, and xylophones Reading music notation Following nonverbal cues from a conductor Listening critically for elements of music Performing in front of an audience

ILAB The first grade curriculum cycles through a 2-year program of study in conjunction with second grade. The first rotation focuses on Earth Materials, Balance and Motion, and New Plants. Young scientists will begin by studying the three main kinds of rocks, where they will observe, describe, and sort earth materials based on their properties. During the winter trimester, students will have fun learning about balance and motion by having the opportunity to engineer different models such as spinners and marble runs. In the spring, students will take their curiosity outside to learn about plants, the role of each part of a plant, and use light tables to watch as plants grow from seed to flower. After spring break, the focus shifts to Lego Robotics and Coding where students will follow schematics to engineer robots to perform specific tasks and apply basic programming.

The second rotation includes Air and Weather, Solids and Liquids, and Insects. Budding scientists will begin the year by learning about Air and Weather. Students will create and record their own weather reports. During the second trimester, the focus will be on solids and liquids. Students will have fun investigating the properties of solids, liquids, and mixtures. In the spring, students will put their curious research minds to work by studying the lives of insects and working on personal research projects for their favorite insects. After spring break, the focus shifts to Lego Robotics and Coding where students will follow schematics to engineer robots to perform specific tasks and apply basic programming.

Exit Outcomes Develops an understanding of how human interactions affect nature and the environment Discovers the properties of matter and how those properties change when acted upon Understands how cycles explain changes in both living and nonliving things Asks questions that demonstrate curiosity and understanding of scientific concepts Engineers robots to perform simple tasks Designs, plans, and build planned and open-ended projects Works both collaboratively and independently

Experiences that Support Learning Uses standard and non-standard units to measure Hands-on, multi sensory approach which includes experiments, construction, and arts-based projects Creates simple models to illustrate scientific concepts Designs and engineers prototypes using recycled materials Draws using a “scientist’s eye” Incorporates technology to support learning Conducts simple research projects Designs and engineers prototypes using Lego Follows schematics accurately Understands and applies basic programming Works as a team to plan, problem solve, troubleshoot, and edit

SPANISH

When children are exposed to other languages at a young age they will be more likely to be interested in learning it as they grow older, also it helps expand their world and become more aware about other cultures and diversity. Students will begin with greetings, all about me, numbers, and colors. We will then progress to day and night, opposites, school supplies, and class furniture, Navidad, weather, winter clothes, food, ordering in a restaurant, likes and dislikes, and summer activities. Spanish class will also incorporate seasonal vocabulary, geography, art, music, customs, and food from Hispanic cultures.

Exit Outcomes Recognizes language as a tool of communication and increases Spanish vocabulary Begins reading and writing in Spanish Refines pronunciation of the Spanish letters Builds knowledge of Hispanic culture and traditions Explores Hispanic culture and traditions

Experiences that Support Learning Collaborative discussions Hands-on, multi-sensory approach Shared Reading Interactive Read-Alouds Modeling Comparing and contrasting Matching games Role Playing Retelling

LIBRARY In First Grade, students continue to build upon skills developed during SK. Using the Whole Book Approach, librarians introduce students to a wide variety of diverse, awardwinning books during weekly classes. First graders are now ready to discover and develop interests in book genres. Students will compare and contrast fiction and nonfiction and identify parts of a book (title, author, illustrator, main characters, setting, main idea, and plot). First graders will learn how fiction picture books are filed alphabetically by the author’s last name and will practice finding book selections using this knowledge.

Students will participate in STAR Reading assessments three times a year. They are also introduced to the Accelerated Reader program. As the first trimester begins, students may check out books to keep in their classroom. After Fall Break, students may check out books to take home.

Exit Outcomes Compare and contrast fiction and nonfiction Identify the seven main parts of a book: title, author, illustrator, characters, main idea, and plot Discover and develop specific interests in book genres Expand awareness of why Formative Five traits are important Learn how to find fiction picture books that are filed alphabetically by the author’s last name Expand listening skills in group settings Demonstrate age-appropriate awareness of other cultures and experiences within whole group discussions, particularly regarding DEI books and topics Learn the locations in the library of fiction and nonfiction books for the first grade level Learn how to take Accelerated Reader online quizzes at school after reading an AR book from the library, classroom, or from home Learn how to take STAR Reading assessments in the library to monitor reading progress

Experiences that Support Learning Class read alouds each week Sharing books from diverse authors and illustrators with students Monthly focus on a specific Formative Five trait (empathy, self-control, integrity, embracing diversity, and grit) Weekly class collaborative discussions related to book readings Weekly hands-on opportunities to explore the sections of the library from which first grade readers select books Librarian-student collaboration on books selected each week by students Weekly checkouts of books to read in the classroom and at home with families Incorporation of monthly DEI books to support awareness of others’ cultures, experiences, and contributions to the world at large Participation in games and activities designed to help them learn how to find fiction picture books by the authors’ last names

ART Art in First Grade focuses on building skills and awareness of the art elements of line, shape, form, space, color, value, and texture that were introduced in kindergarten. These concepts are brought to life by pairing them with an artist or art style, a children’s book, a topic they are learning about in school, a holiday, or any number of subject matters from a first grader’s world. Children come twice a week for 45 minutes. Our expectation of children is that they do their best and that they respect the materials in the art room and each other. We hope that every child gains art-making confidence and skill, and learns to love creating.

As the year progresses, look in the hallway outside of — and across from — the art room to see their wonderful artwork. 3D projects and holiday projects go home as they are finished; the rest of the artwork goes home in two different bundles: at the beginning of Christmas break and at the end of the school year.

ART Exit Outcomes Has awareness that art is a personal expression with each person creating their own unique art Has awareness that art is created by people of many cultures around the world for a variety of purposes Has awareness that art employs imagination and does not have to look real Learns a watercolor and crayon painting technique called a resist Can distinguish forms of art such as still life, portraits, landscapes, abstract art Constructs pattern and symmetrical designs Understands that shapes become forms when they are 3-dimensional Understands that materials (like recyclables) can be transformed into objects Understands the basic proportions of a face Is familiar with the parts and location of parts on a face and how to make them Understands that the sky is all around and touches the ground Reviews primary/secondary colors, color mixing, and constructs color wheel Creates artwork with varied materials/techniques: painting using both tempera and watercolor, drawing, collage, oil pastels, colored pencils, markers, clay, paper sculpting, found objects, recycled materials Begins to understand and practice the ceramic techniques of slab, coil pot, and pinch pot Begins to understand how glaze changes in the kiln to color ceramics

Experiences that Support Learning Hands-on art making experience in every class Inclusion in all projects the students freedom to create individualized expression and content within the boundaries of the objectives of an assignment Examples and discussion about artwork showing different styles Examples and discussion about artwork from different countries and cultures Modeling/demonstration of technique and correct usage of various materials Modeling/demonstration of how to identify and pick out shapes to draw objects Modeling/demonstration of overlapping Modeling/demonstration drawing of a face Praise and use of examples of artwork of classmates Use of examples of artifacts (for example: masks from all over the world) One-on-one dialogue and help as needed with students to determine their goals in art and how best to achieve them Availability of a variety of materials and visual references