​Teachers
Dr. Carrie Alpert  *  Mrs. Lauri Sherbon  *  Mrs. Elizabeth Castrejon

Curriculum Overview


The first grade curriculum focuses on helping students develop a positive self-image by making each individual aware of the special and unique qualities he or she possesses

Reading
Ribbons with workbook
Sand Castles  with workbook and work sheets
Weather Vanes with workbook and work sheets
Every child should complete these books and workbooks
Develop good work habits
Learn to work independently
Work on comprehension
S.R.A. lab
Weekly Reader

Phonics
Curriculum Press “B”
Completion of workbooks by all students
Initial and final consonants
Consonant blends, digraphs, variations
Short and long vowel sounds
Synonyms, antonyms
Contractions
Drop e - add ing, or es, and when to add extra consonants
Build rhyming families
Phonics quiz every Friday

Spelling
Steck - Vaugh Spelling Book II
Add more words to spell each week from science and social studies
Complete workbooks one unit per week 
Correlate phonics and spelling
Use spelling words to make sentences and stories
Have spelling homework every week with varied assignments
Have spelling tests every Thursday and spelling dictation tests every Friday

English
Houghton Mifflin English
Learn to write good sentences
Use capital letters 
Names 
I to begin a sentence
Months, days
Use period, question mark and exclamation point
Learn poems
Tell an interesting story - Write stories second semester
Alphabetical order

Mathematics
Modern Curriculum Press
Master all combinations to 20, both addition and subtraction
Learn to count to 100 by 1’s, 5’s, and 10’s
Write numbers to 100 and beyond
Work with money concepts: nickel, penny, dime, quarter, half - dollar and dollar 
Review time by hour and half - hour
Review basic shapes and introduce geometrical shapes
Introduce fractions by using shapes
Introduce less than and greater than (<, >)
Place value to 1000
Double digit adding and subtracting
Introduce regrouping
Learn measurements in centimeters and inches, liters and pints
Math quizzes given every Friday

Science
HSP Science
Study the five senses, Human body, Heat, Energy, Living, and Non-Living things, Animals, Weather, Space, and the Earth.
Do seed planting and experiments in class.
​mBot Robotics

Social Studies
An awareness of family, ancestors, and the similarities and differences among cultures is emphasized, as well as the responsibilities of voting. Students learn about continents, oceans, and landforms, and expand their knowledge with studies of map skills. Main areas of focus are: 
  • School and family
  • All about me 
  • Community Helpers
  • Transportation
  • Pets
  • Health
  • Character Trait
  • Manners
  • Christopher Columbus, Indians, Pilgrims 
  • Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Abraham Lincoln
  • George Washington
  • Benjamin Franklin
  • the environment and the world we live in
  • and Different Cultures and Ancestors. 

Handwriting
Bowmar Noble
Encouraging neatness on homework assignments.
Work on penmanship.

Starting in the first grade, students learn about a variety of topics through the scientific method. Experimentation and critical analysis are emphasized as students investigate topics that include solids and liquids through a variety of approaches including manipulatives,textbooks, computer programs, and daily exercises.

The language arts component incorporates reading with workbook exercises, handwriting, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling activities.

 Students become aware of the relationship between their school, neighborhood, local community, state, nation and the world. In addition, first graders study some of the holidays celebrated in other cultures such as Divali, Chinese New Year, and Cinco de Mayo as well learning about the contributions of the Ancient Greek civilization.

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