First Grade Curriculum Overview
At the beginning of each school year, students are tested using Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS), Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) systems to determine the course of curriculum for each individual child for the upcoming year.
Using the results from testing, we focus on creating differentiated curriculum and custom learning programs for each child. Testing is done again in the middle and end of the year to assess if we are meeting the needs of each student.
Along with the concept of meeting the student’s individual needs, our curriculum pulls resources from many places depending on the student’s needs. Here is an overview of materials and resources we use during the year:
Math
Our math curriculum is taught using Saxon Math Level 2 by Houghton Mifflin. Examples of the standards topics covered include addition and subtraction with twenty, properties of place value, data and graphing, money, measurement and geometry.
Language Arts
Our language arts curriculum is taught using the Houghton Mifflin Journeys program. Examples of the standards topics covered include phonics and decoding skills, sight vocabulary, sentences, punctuation, alphabetical order and correct grammar usage.
Religion
Our religion curriculum is taught using the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies Faith Formation Program. Examples of the standards topics covered include saints, forgiveness of sin, following Jesus, the Sacraments and May Crowning. Children attend Mass weekly as a school community.
Social Studies
Our social studies curriculum uses the Houghton Mifflin Grow and Changes program as well as Scholastic News. Examples of the standards topics covered include geography, government and citizenship, history, and people and culture.
Science
Our science curriculum uses Houghton Mifflin Discovery Works. Examples of the standards topics covered include kinds of living things, magnets, the solar system, weather and seasons.
Technology
Our classrooms are equipped with SmartBoards and a minimum of six student computers. Students go to computer lab weekly.
In addition to the curriculum taught in the first grade classrooms, students attend at least one of the various specials classes each day:
- Physical Education
- Performing Arts
- Art
- Library
- Spanish
- Technology Lab
First Grade Photos
