First Grade

During this school year, successful first graders will read independently and write legibly. They will have to interact not only with their classroom teacher, but also with teachers in art, music, and physical education. In addition, the school day will become longer and they will be involved in more complex activities. They will be required to go to and from school, with limited assistance. They will also discover that they will have some homework assignments.

Top 10 skills your child should learn this year:

1. Sound out words through their knowledge of consonants, vowels, and digraphs.
2. Read at least 100 sight words.
3. Locate the main idea and details in stories.
4. Recall the sequence of events in oral and written stories.
5. Write words legibly in manuscript form.
6. Capitalize the first word in a sentence and use the period or question mark at the end of a sentence.
7. Recognize the singular and plural forms of nouns.
8. Count to 100 by one's, two's, five's, and ten's.
9. Write the numerals to 100.
10. Add and subtract numbers up to and from twelve.

It is important that your child be able to do the following:

1. Listen and follow directions.
2. Concentrate long enough to complete a task.
3. Work independently.
4. Read on grade level.
5. Verbally express his/her opinions, feelings, and needs.

General milestones to help you understand your child's progress during the school year. Remember that every child is different and that he/she may not fit perfectly into these milestones.

• The average six-year-old is egocentric and wants to be the center of attention.
• "Best" and "First" are very important to him/her.
• There is boundless energy.
• You may see a child who is oppositional, silly, brash, and critical.
• He/she may cry easily.
• There could be an attachment to the teacher.
• There may be some evidence of not being flexible.
• Oftentimes, fantasy is considered real.

School isn't just about academics. Your child is growing socially. Your child is learning to understand him/herself. You can encourage him/her as he/she does the following:

• develops a positive, realistic self-concept;
• learns to respect him/herself;
• begins to understand his own uniqueness;
• gains awareness of his/her feelings;
• learns to express feelings;
• learns how to participate in groups;
• begins to learn from mistakes.

Class Rules

1. Follow directions.
2. Stay on task.
3. Raise one's hand to speak.
4. Keep one's hands, feet, and things to oneself.
5. Change work areas silently.
6. Treat others as you wish to be treated.

First Grade Courses

1. September
1. Life Science - Plants
1. Seed dispersal
2. Function of root, stem, leaf
3. Life cycle
4. Role in the food chain
2. October
1. Life Science – Plants continued
3. November
1. Earth/Space – The Moon
1. Phases
2. Revolution
3. Rotation
4. Gravity
4. December
1. Health – Immune System
1. Germs
2. Staying healthy
3. Creating slides
4. Using a microscope
5. January
1. Physical Science – Science Skills
1. Classifying
2. Sorting
3. Linear and liquid measurement
6. February
1. Physical Science
1. Magnets
2. Electricity: static and current
7. March
1. Physical Science
1. Simple machines
2. Types and uses of friction
8. April
1. Life Science – Plants
1. Conditions that affect growth
2. Flowers
9. May
1. Health
1. Safety
10. June
1. Science Festival
1. Introduction to flight