First grade is centered on literacy.  Even though most students’ language skills are just emerging, first grade has a rich literary environment.  Students read fiction and non-fiction books and then extend their reading in many ways.  For example, after reading the book If Dogs Were Dinosaurs, students create their own “What if?” writing. Students also participate in interactive forms of reading through Reader’s Theater and puppet shows.  These methods of reading help promote fluency and confidence in the students.  In first grade, reading is taught through literacy centers and Guided Reading, allowing for consistent and daily differentiated instruction.  This allows each student to be reached at his or her level.

A new and wonderful component to first grade is a new phonics and reading program called F.A.S.T.  This program appeals to many different learning styles and is an ideal fit for a first grade classroom, allowing students to be involved in the reading and phonics process through a board with magnets representing sounds.  This program has several different components: reading, writing, board word, spelling, and instruction time.  Through all of these different centers and small group work, students are able to gain ownership over the information they’re learning, allowing for incredible jumps in understanding of phonics and reading… as well as a great gain in reading confidence! 

Writing also plays a big part of first grade work.  When a student leaves first grade, the goal is that he or she loves to write.  Writing is taught most commonly using picture books to introduce a topic.  For instance, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is used to introduce sequencing in writing and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse is incorporated to introduce the importance of details.  Writing begins with sentences and pictures, but by the end of first grade, students are creating their own picture books.  Each major writing assignment concludes with “Author’s Chair,” where each student is given the opportunity to share his or her writing with the rest of the class.  In first grade, every student is an author!

First grade science is an introduction to the amazing natural world.  Watching hatching chicks right in the classroom is an experience students will never forget.  Creating magnetic fields makes sure students will always remember the poles of a magnet.  A visit to the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum brings other science concepts to life with fun and engaging exhibits.

In the Saxon math program, interactive teaching methods and materials help young students to understand the concepts and see how math really works.  It has consistent, cumulative review of the concepts taught and encourages memorization of math facts early in the students’ school career.  Along with Saxon, a Guided Math approach is taken, allowing students to learn in a multi-sensory manner.  This more constructivist approach allows students to truly own their learning process, helping to make the important math concepts a permanent understanding.

Spiritual training is also an important facet of first grade learning.  Studying Old Testament figures such as Adam, Eve, Noah, Jacob, Joseph and Moses creates a foundation of biblical knowledge.  The use of other media sparks inquisitiveness and curiosity about biblical truths.  Memorization of scripture is also a regular part of school.

An integral part of first grade training is developing good learning habits such as listening and requires students to use developing skills to solve problems and answer questions.  These habits help foster responsibility and confidence.  Parents are encouraged to help students be responsible for their learning by teaching parents how to ask subject specific questions so that learning can extend beyond the classroom.  For example, instead of asking, “What did you do today?” and receiving a typical response like “Nothing?”  It is suggested that parents ask, “What are two things you learned about an addition number sentence?”  Parents already know the answers to the question because they are madly reading the “First Grade Fun” newsletter, which is a sneak peek into the lesson plans for the week.