In the Classroom
Morning meeting
During morning meeting the students will be participating in fun activities such as singing songs and playing games to review what they have learned. Listed below are various activities that could be included.
-Calendar: Students will identify today's date. We will sing songs to identify and read days of week and months of the year. We also keep track of the number of days we have been in school, working on place value and number sense.
-Red words: Games will be played which reinforce the red words and build fluency.
-Poetry:
A new poem will be introduced each week. It will be chosen to correlate with a current topic in science, social studies, math, or phonics. It will be used to reinforce phonetic skills, sight words, science concepts, and to build fluency and reading skills.
-Problem of the day:
Each day a math problem will be presented. It is designed to review concepts we are currently working on and build critical thinking and problem solving skills.
-Word of the Week:
Each week a new word will be introduced to increase vocabulary skills. The word will be related to a topic we are learning about.
Morning message:
A message will be written on the board each morning for the students to read and make an appropriate response. Children will be challenged to identify all errors in the message. This is a fun way to reinforce grammar, sentence structure, spelling, sight words, reading fluency, editing skills and comprehension.
News of the Day:
Students share important news or special events. This helps generate ideas for story writing during writer's workshop.
Phonics:
First grade phonics is taught using IMSE. We will begin the year by quickly reviewing letters and their sounds. We will learn long vowels, diagraphs, double letter endings, beginning blends, ending blends, glides, long vowels with magic e, and long vowel teams.
Guided Reading/Centers
During guided reading children are placed in a small group based on their DRA level (Developmental Reading Assessment). The groups meet with the teacher to read interesting books on their level. The purpose of these groups is to build fluency, build reading and decoding skills, and practice reading comprehension strategies. These groups are flexible and change throughout the year as each child's level grows. Children also have the opportunity to work independently on centers. Centers are designed to help build mastery of concepts they have learned or are learning.
Reading
Reading comprehension strategies are taught using the Schoolwide program. The children will learn strategies such as visualization, retelling, sequencing, identifying nonfiction elements, main idea, and making connections. It also promotes building community, listening skills, and cooperation.
Writing
Writing is taught using the Being a Writer program. Students begin by listening to trade books to generate ideas for their own writing. They are taught throughout the year to add more to their stories by including sound words, feelings, and descriptions. They will also begin to self-edit their writing. The students will learn to write narrative, persuasive, expository (how to) and informative pieces. Writing in their writer's workshop is always a choice during center time.
Math
Math will be taught using Envision. We will cover topics such as adding and subtracting numbers to 20, fractions, time, data, measurement, number sense, number patterns, and place value.
Science
Science will be taught twice a week. Topics include: Plants and Animals, Air and Weather, and Sound and Light.
Social Studies
Social studies will be taught twice a week. Topics include: maps, citizenship, holidays, famous leaders, cultures, Colonial Times, Chinese New Year, weather, environment, economics, symbols, famous Americans, family, and community.
Health
Health will be taught twice a week. Topics include: the human body, dental health, character traits, nutrition, and emotion and physical well being.