Grade 1 receives students who have turned 6 by October 1.  Students have two recesses each day, a snack in the morning and lunch in the cafeteria.  Each week students also attend Specialist classes in physical education, art, music, drama, library, computers and ECE.

First grade curriculum builds on prior knowledge to develop fundamental reading, writing and mathematical skills.  Through exploration, cooperative learning, problem solving and critical thinking, students are guided to develop cognitive, social and behavioral habits necessary for success.

Teachers plan as a team preparing developmentally appropriate, standards based units of study.  The following list provides a glimpse into the themes throughout the year:

• Rights & Responsibilities
• The World is Our Neighborhood
• On the Job
• Weather
• Plants
• All About Maps
• Health
• Animals
• Describing Matter
• Energy Sources & Motion

Each unit of study ends with a hands-on culminating activity such as "A Cultural Feast", "1st Grade Market", and a filmed "Weather Report" done by the students.

In our balanced literacy program, Grade 1 classrooms provide an environment rich in print and oral language.  Reading and writing instruction are integrated and holistic as each process builds upon the other.  Daily oral reading, shared language experiences, small group guided reading, word study, creative writing, responsive writing, vocabulary development and handwriting are all integral parts of daily language instruction.  In our guided reading program students are paired with books that are 'just right' for them.  Students learn writing in our daily "Writer's Workshop".

Teachers use Everyday Math as a resource for our math program.  The mathematics program focuses on the understanding of number properties, understanding place value, recognizing patterns in numbers and creating and solving real life story problems.  Students utilize a wide variety of hands-on manipulatives to move from concrete to symbolic operations and learn to relate mathematics to their real world.