All first grade students will be studying topics and concepts required by the North Carolina Standard Course https://www.wcpss.net/Page/50767.
Literacy Instruction
Reading Groups
During this time students will be spelling words and reading books, mostly decodable books, that allow them to build confidence and fluency with specific phonics patterns they need to work on.
Letterland
Letterland is the program used in Wake County to help children learn phonics skills and spelling patterns. Each week students learn a new phonics skill that will help them learn how to read and spell new words. They will receive a new spelling list each week in their daily folder. Click below to see all of the first grade Letterland spelling lists.
Letterland is the program used in Wake County to help children learn phonics skills and spelling patterns. Each week students learn a new phonics skill that will help them learn how to read and spell new words. They will receive a new spelling list each week in their daily folder. Click below to see all of the first grade Letterland spelling lists.
Letterland Spelling Lists | |
File Size: | 4993 kb |
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Tricky Words
On your child's spelling list each week you will also see a few tricky words that we will be working on that week. Tricky words are basically sight words or high frequency words that occur often in print. First graders are assessed and given word lists that are just right for them to practice. They will practice reading these word lists in class and when they master one list they will move onto the next list. The goal is for students to be able to read many sight words automatically without sounding them out which help to improve their fluency (the speed at which they read) and make reading less labor intensive so they can dedicate more attention to comprehension. Click below to see all of the sight word lists for first grade.
On your child's spelling list each week you will also see a few tricky words that we will be working on that week. Tricky words are basically sight words or high frequency words that occur often in print. First graders are assessed and given word lists that are just right for them to practice. They will practice reading these word lists in class and when they master one list they will move onto the next list. The goal is for students to be able to read many sight words automatically without sounding them out which help to improve their fluency (the speed at which they read) and make reading less labor intensive so they can dedicate more attention to comprehension. Click below to see all of the sight word lists for first grade.
Tricky Word Lists.pdf | |
File Size: | 326 kb |
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Writer's Workshop
In our classroom our writing time is called “writer’s workshop,” where students will learn to write like published authors. Like authors, they choose their own topics. Then, they will prewrite or plan what they will write (usually by drawing) and write rough drafts, which they will revise and edit before publication. Students will learn to write for many purposes. They will write narratives, persuasive letters, how-to instructions, all about (nonfiction) books, and poetry. Often during writer's workshop will look at the works of different authors to inspire us and give us ideas for our writing pieces. At the end of every unit, you will get the work that your child completed during writer’s workshop with a summary of what we learned and your child’s writing performance level for that unit of writing.
Math
In math your child will participate in many problem solving activities that encourages them to use any method and/or manipulatives they choose. They will also conduct "math talk" conversations with their peers where they will discuss how they solved problems and their thought processes. "Math talk" has been shown by research to improve students understanding of mathematical concepts. The more students discuss their thought processes and hear the thought processes of others the more engrained concepts become. Students will see that there may be more than one way to solve a problem and discover more efficient ways to solve problems. In addition to "math talk" it will also be imperative for your child to be able to write about their thought processes for solving problems. This will not only improve their ability to reason and solve problems but it will also improve their writing and communication skills. Below are some math objectives your child will be expected to master in first grade:
* Solve addition and subtraction word problems and equations
* Demonstrate fluency with addition and subtraction math facts within 20
* Count, identify, write, and compare numbers to 150
* Understand that a two-digit number is made up of groups of ten and leftover ones
* Add two-digit numbers with and without regrouping using pictures and models to solve
* Mentally add and subtract two-digit numbers with a multiple of ten (For example to solve 45+20 the learner should count on in their head by tens...55, 65 and when subtracting count backwards by tens.)
* Measure objects with different units of measure. Students might measure an object with crayons, paper clips, etc.
* Compare the length of two or three objects
* Tell and write the time to the hour and half-hour
* Organize, represent, and interpret data in the form of graphs
* Build, draw, describe and identify two-dimensional shapes (rectangles, squares, trapezoids, triangles, half-circles, and quarter circles) and three-dimensional shapes (cubes, rectangular prisms, cones, cylinders, spheres, and pyramids)
* Partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares and then describe shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters.
Click below for the problem solving methods that are taught in first grade. This is a great resource for parents wanting guidance on how to help their child at home.
Math Information | |
File Size: | 3931 kb |
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Science and Social Studies
Your child will spend about 4.5 weeks on science and 4.5 weeks on social studies each quarter. Like in math students will be encouraged to talk with their peers about what they learn and discover, as well as, write and reflect on what they learned as they participate in many hands-on learning activities. Below are some of our units of study in science and social studies:
Science Units- Living Organisms, Rocks and Earth Materials, Balance and Motion, and Day & Night/The Moon.
Social Studies Units - The Importance of Rules, Diverse People and Cultures, Basic Economic Concepts (wants, needs, goods, services, jobs, and money), Maps and Globes, Interacting with the Environment, and History and Holidays
Science Units- Living Organisms, Rocks and Earth Materials, Balance and Motion, and Day & Night/The Moon.
Social Studies Units - The Importance of Rules, Diverse People and Cultures, Basic Economic Concepts (wants, needs, goods, services, jobs, and money), Maps and Globes, Interacting with the Environment, and History and Holidays