FIRST GRADE LEVEL

CONTACT FIRST GRADE TEACHERS

Welcome to First Grade
In First Grade our main focus is to enhance your child’s reading through Balance Literacy. In Balance Literacy your child will learn simple phonic rules, comprehension skills, and will learn to read independently. Our math stretches across many goals.

The children will learn different ways to show numbers to 100, measurement, shapes, simple addition, simple subtraction, graphing and extended patterning. Also, in first grade we focus on word problems in math in order to prepare the children for upper grade math. In Science we focus on the many different animals, different habitats and plants. Writer’s Workshop is our writing program. The children learn to write about small moments with a beginning, middle and end.

Student expectations
Each teacher in first grade expects the students to follow the school rules, read every night, do his homework, and try his best at everything.

Parent expectations
Each first grade teacher expects the parents to read with their child every night. We also expect the parents to read our letters that we send home so they may be informed. Parents are expected to attend school conferences. Most importantly, parents are expected to ask questions so they may know how to help their child succeed.

Procedures
Every week each first grade teacher sends homework at the beginning of the week. This homework is due at the end of the week. Reading books are sent home and must be returned the next day. For behavior each first grade teacher has their own system and informs the parents of how her system works.

Activities
In first grade we have reading groups during our Balanced Literacy time. Math time can consist of whole group lessons to small center work. Writer’s workshop includes a small lesson on the carpet then everyone is writing at their seat while the teacher works with individual children. In Science we try to include some simple experiments. All of the first grade teachers enjoy watching children create so we complete several art projects throughout the year.

Testing
Reading- There are daily assessments on the children’s reading levels. Every 12 weeks a formal assessment is given to determine the child’s reading level.
Math-Each six weeks an assessment in given that covers the main ideas for that period.

At the end of the year there is an assessment that covers the whole year.
Writing- Every 12 weeks a writing assessment is given.