Curriculum

First grade is a busy year!  We cover a lot of curriculum and have many expectations of our little ones.  Here is a quick and basic outline of skills we cover in the different academic areas throughout the entire year: 

Reading

• Understand and use content specific vocabulary

 Examples include:  characters, setting, events, author, period, question mark, vowel, fact,       opinion, fiction, non-fiction, define, syllable, diagram, glossary, problem, solution, noun, verb, adjective, etc. (to name a few)

• Retell stories including main idea and key details. (characters, setting, major events...)
• Identify the main topic and key details of informational text.
• Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in text.  (making text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections)
• Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds. (phonemes)
• Apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.  
• Read grade-level text with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.  (ability to read the 100 most common words used in first grade - word wall words and reading at a DRA level of 16 by the end of first grade.)

Language Arts

• Write opinion pieces including an introduction of the topic, a stated opinion, a reason for the opinion, and a closing.
• Write informative texts including a named topic, facts about the topic, and a closing.
• Write narratives including sequenced events, details, time order words, and a closing.
• Apply standard English grammar and usage when writing. (creating basic sentence with noun and verb, using singular/plural nouns with matching verbs, using adjectives and conjunctions in more complex sentences)
• Apply standard English capitalization and punctuation when writing.
• Use conventional spelling for words with common spelling patterns and for common irregular (sight) words, and uses phonetic spelling for untaught words, drawing on phonemic awareness and spelling conventions. 
• Participate in conversations about grade-level topics and texts, applying English grammar and usage when speaking. 

Math

• Understand and use content-specific vocabulary

Examples include:  plus/minus, addition, subtraction, sum, digit, greater than, less than, difference, length, data, inches, centimeter, fraction,  addend, double, equation, etc.  (to name a few)

•  Understand, represent, and solve problems involving addition and subtraction to 20.
• Demonstrate an understanding of place value to 100.
• Demonstrate an understanding of measurement using standard and non-standard units (hour, cents, inches, ...)
• Represent and interpret data
• Construct and compare shapes and their attributes.

Science

• Understand and use content specific vocabulary.
• Record observations through illustrations.
• Classify objects based on color, size, shape, and texture. 
•  Describe weather and seasonal changes.
• Identify basic needs of animals. 
• Identify how animals survive in their environment through adaptations. 

Social Studies

• Tell personal address, including city and state.
• Understand rules, reasons for rules, and consequences for breaking rules.
• Understand wants and needs of people in the world.
• Describe difference between city and country.
• Use directions to locate positions on a map or globe.  
• Identify map keys and symbols.