First Grade Overview
First grade is the time to gain independence and develop skills that will be used throughout your child’s educational career. Your child will grow spiritually, academically, physically and socially during first grade.
Religion class (Jesus’ Time) provides opportunity for your child to participate in their daily faith walk with Jesus. The One Life in Christ curriculum, from Concordia Publishing House, will help your child understand Law and Gospel and the need for a Savior. Your child will have the opportunity to grow in faith, love and commitment to Jesus Christ through weekly chapel services, daily devotions, and prayer.
In Phonics/Reading students practice phonics skills, blending sounds and recognizing print. Using the Open Court and Daily 5 curriculum, students are divided by skill level into small groups to practice oral and silent reading in order to gain fluency and comprehension skills. In Language Arts your child will practice sentence formation, sentence mechanics and parts of speech. Spelling, Handwriting and Writer’s Workshop will help your child gain confidence in his or her personal expression. Weekly spelling activities assess your child's progress. The Zaner Bloser curriculum will allow your child to master manuscript writing through creative activities. Writer’s Workshop merges all the skills together to practice different creative styles of writings through the writing process.
Through hands on learning, your child will develop and master concepts in Math class. The Saxon Math curriculum utilizes daily practice of: problem solving, mental math, daily review facts, and telling time. This will help your child gain confidence to build his or her foundation for future math concepts.
Students will investigate and experience Science. The Texas Science Fusion curriculum incorporates inquiry skills, STEM skills, investigations, and many activities with opportunities to ask questions, think critically and enjoy applying hands on science. The magazine style textbook provides opportunities to take notes, make sketches and record data in the textbook.
Understanding the community around us is an important part of our Social Studies class. Your child will learn about being a good citizen, the different jobs people do, and the land around them. Focusing on our community, city, and state helps us to appreciate what God has given. Through the use of Texas Weekly Studies your child will learn about citizenship and current and historical events through articles written at a first grade reading level.
Throughout first grade, your child will also participate in Brain Power Hour, Technology, Spanish, Art, Music and Physical Education. Field trips, both physical and virtual, and educational presentations allow your child to grow throughout the school year.