Language Arts
The language arts program supports the development of the language processes (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in ways that are meaningful and purposeful to the students. Literacy contexts are functional, social and useful to the student.
Reading to the children, with the children, and by the children are integral pieces to the reading program in the first grade.
Children express ideas on paper moving through the developmental stages of writing.
Through the writing process, children grow in all of the language processes. They select their own topics, write rough drafts, confer with others, and revise and edit their own materials. Finished products are valued, but it is the process of writing and development of the child as a learner that is emphasized.
In our literacy program, phonics teaching is thoughtfully planned and it takes place in a wide variety of activities throughout each day. Research supports the use of invented spellings as children work to develop word recognition and phonics skills and work to use a greater variety of words in their writing.
Mathematics
Math is an exciting time of discovery during which children use manipulative objects and materials in a variety of hands-on experiences. Children learn to sort objects, identify, create and extend patterns, write and order numbers, use standard and non-standard units of measure, understand place value, and solve addition and subtraction facts to twenty. Students are encouraged to solve problems and develop their own understandings in a context that is meaningful to them
Daily calendar activities provide opportunities to teach, reinforce and extend primary math skills such as counting and skip counting, identifying even and odd numbers, creating and recognizing visual and number patterns, keeping a tally, graphing, writing number combinations, and understanding place value.
Science and Social Studies
The science program at the first grade level is committed to developing a sense of wonder, excitement, and an awareness of science and the environment. The children are introduced to the scientific process as they observe, classify and order, measure, predict, experiment, and infer. It is important that young children learn to value the natural world and desire to preserve it.
Thematic studies of various science and social studies are rotated to provide the framework, integrating them with the other disciplines.
Mandarin or Spanish Language
Simple stories, songs, rhymes, and plays are the core of the daily Mandarin or Spanish program with emphasis placed on the communicative skills of listening and speaking. A great deal of repetition of conversational expressions and thematic vocabulary is used in an enjoyable way to allow for student success. Songs, games, and stories from the target culture establish the cultural connections of the program and provide a basis for developing global citizenship.
Art
Studying elements of art, early art and kinds of paintings from around the world are the ways that students learn about art in first grade. Art lessons are often integrated with classroom instruction and reflect the interests of the children.
When WIS first graders study the art of various cultures, they begin to gain insight into the beliefs and origins of their own culture, an essential open-minded perspective.
Music
The music program at the first grade level is designed to encourage students’ natural enthusiasm as they begin to learn the basic elements of music: rhythm, melody, timbre, texture, and basic elemental form. Strong ties to literacy and concepts in rhythm are an emphasis. Class activities are designed to facilitate learning through an experimental environment. Singing is a vital part of the program, and instrumental activities use speech, body percussion, and elementary pitched and unpitched instruments. An emphasis on learning how to be active listeners, who are able to describe what they hear, is an important part of the music experience in first grade. The development of a lifelong love and appreciation for music is one of the major goals.
Physical Education
Movement education is the primary focus at the primary level (PreK-2) which includes activities to develop locomotor, non-locomotor, perceptual-motor, rhythmic, manipulative, fitness and body management skills. Many different kinds of developmental games and activities are planned to provide students with opportunities to work together to improve social and cooperative interaction skills. Students are introduced to basic health-related fitness concepts.
Technology
The goal of technology instruction is to enable students and teachers to effectively use the computer and other technology tools to enhance, support and extend students’ learning across the curriculum. Through whole and small group as well as individual instruction, the children develop a vocabulary of basic terminology, learn proper use and care of computers and other tools with increasing independence, and use developmentally appropriate software. This allows them to work on developmentally appropriate multi-media projects, gather information, and explore programs that reinforce skills being learned in the classroom.
Library/Research Skills
Meetings per cycle: One Library Course length: Full year
The primary goals of the library curriculum are to inspire students to develop a lifelong love of reading and to help them become information literate. Students are introduced to books and have the opportunity to check out books. Individual students, small groups of students or entire classes visit the library as needed to work on library skills and research projects related to classroom units of study.
First graders develop more independence in locating books of interest to them, and develop age-appropriate library skills. When they visit the library for their regularly scheduled classes, first graders listen to books being read aloud, become familiar with authors and illustrators of children’s books, recite poetry, sing songs, participate in choral readings, retell stories with props.
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