| Our First Grade Teachers | Classroom |
| Ms. Mildred Velazquez | A – 2 |
| Mrs. Jennifer Russo | A – 3 |
| Ms. Chelsea Rodrigues | A – 4 |
| Ms. Cassie Ekstrom | A – 5 |
| Mrs. Ann Repasi | A – 14 |
Curriculum Overview for Grade 1*
English Language Arts
Frequent practice in reading, writing, speaking, and listening continues in grade 1. Through readers’ and writers’ workshop, each student engages in reading literature and informational text; in writing narrative, informational/explanatory, and opinion pieces; in speaking to convey his or her own ideas clearly; and in listening to understand the ideas of others. Grade 1 English Language Arts curriculum, instruction, and assessment help each student learn to:
- Apply grade-level phonics when decoding words
- Use active reading comprehension skills/strategies with a variety of texts
- Support thinking with evidence from text that is read, both orally and in writing
- Read orally with appropriate phrasing and expression
- Maintain interest and focus during reading
- Express written ideas clearly with supporting details in narrative, informational, and opinion genres
- Connect ideas in writing, using transitional words as needed
- Use appropriate grade-level vocabulary to convey meaning in writing
- Vary sentence length and sentence structure
- Apply rules of grammar and punctuation accurately
- Apply spelling strategies in written work
- Persevere and maintain focus during writing to build stamina
Mathematics
Besides knowing by heart, and therefore being fluent in, addition and subtraction facts to 10, by the end of grade 1 a student should be able to understand what the digits mean in a two-digit number such as 63 (namely, that 63 is six tens and three ones). Working with multi-digit addition in grade 1 builds the foundation for later work involving larger numbers.
Grade 1 Mathematics curriculum, instruction, and assessment help each student learn to:
- Quickly and accurately add together numbers that total 10 or less, and subtract from numbers up through 10
- Understand the rules of addition and subtraction
- Solve word problems that involve adding or subtracting numbers up through 20
- Understand what the different digits mean in a two-digit number
- Compare two-digit numbers using the symbols >, =, and <
- Understand the meaning of =, and determine if statements involving addition and subtraction are true or false
- Count to 120 starting at any number less than 120. Read, write, and represent numbers to 120
- Measure lengths of objects using shorter objects as units of length
- Put objects in order from longest to shortest or shortest to longest
- Organize objects into categories and compare the number of objects in different categories
- Divide circles and rectangles into halves and quarters
- Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
Science
Grade 1 students engage in science through the use of science modules that promote hands-on investigations and an awareness of science safety. Their inquiry includes planting and observing the full growth cycle of plants from seed to flower, investigating life cycles of insects including metamorphosis of butterflies, and exploring pollination through STEM-based instruction. Grade 1 Science curriculum, instruction, and assessment help each student explore the following questions:
- What does a plant need to grow?
- How do living things such as butterflies change over time?
- What is the role of insects in the natural system of pollination?
- Why is water important for living things, and what do sinking, floating, dissolving, and evaporating mean?
Through the use of student notebooks, students will demonstrate their understanding of science concepts and key vocabulary, make and record observations, and present information in words and drawings.
Social Studies
Grade 1 Social Studies curriculum, instruction, and assessment use family as a context to help each student:
- Discover how families are alike and different, and how the community is organized
- Learn how laws, rules, and compromise help people live together
- Explore how famous Americans have contributed to our nation’s history, government, and culture
Library Media
Grade 1 Library Media curriculum, instruction, and assessment help each student learn to:
- Locate a picture book based on an author’s last name, identify parts of a book and main story elements, and describe the difference between fiction and nonfiction
- Successfully open and close computer software programs, and create a word processing document
Music
Grade 1 Music curriculum, instruction, and assessment help each student learn to:
- Match pitch, and create songs on Off instruments
- Recognize sound differences, and identify simple beat patterns and simple music notation
Physical Education
Grade 1 Physical Education curriculum, instruction, and assessment help each student learn to:
- Demonstrate and apply motor skill performance in team and individual lifetime activities
- Develop a health-enhancing level of physical fitness
Visual Arts
Grade 1 Visual Arts curriculum, instruction, and assessment help each student learn to:
- Experiment with drawing, color theory, design, painting, printmaking, three-dimensional work, and textiles