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First Grade is a very exciting and challenging year. Here at Mary Help of Christians, we realize that children learn in different ways, so we offer a wide variety of instruction. Through hands-on experiences, manipulatives, visual presentations and a "loving environment", we help our students grow both academically and spiritually. |
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 Religion |
The first grade attends Mass weekly and engages in daily prayer and reflection. Our series is We Believe by Sadlier. The content is faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church: Creed, Lituragy and Sacraments, Moral Life and Prayer. The students continue their faith formation throughout the year, helping them prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in second grade. This is done through age appropriate activities, songs and readings.
| Language Arts |
We have incorporated a developmental and balanced literacy program utilizing the Wright Group Reading and Phonics series. A balanced literacy program includes: guided reading, (small group instruction); shared reading, (Big Books, Read Alouds); poetry and literacy centers, phonics, journal writing and a writing workshop. Our writing workshop provides lessons and practice that support the five developmental writing stages.
In phonics, our students will show knowledge in...
- Word awareness
- Rhyme awareness
- Compound words
- Syllable awareness
- Alliteration
- Onset and rhyme
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- Initial, medial and final sounds
- Blends
- Diagraphs
- Word families
- Contractions
- Plurals
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In reading, the students will...
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Predict what a passage is about based on title and illustration.
- Identify words and construct meaning from text.
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Increase comprehension by rereading, retelling and discussion.
- Construct meaning from a wide variety of texts.
- Determine main idea.
- Read for enjoyment.
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In writing, the students will...
- Make a plan for writing that includes a central idea
- Draft and revise simple sentences
- Write questions and observations about familiar topics
- Use experiences to write about familiar occasions
- Write like authors do
| Mathematics |
In Mathematics, the students will use Houghton Mifflin Mathematics. This is a systematic, step-by-step approach that helps develop mathematical concepts and skills. There is a strong focus on problem solving and reasoning which provides the student with an opportunity to demonstrate and apply their understanding. Through visual demonstrations, cooperative learning, daily calendar math and manipulatives the student will...
- Count by 2’s, 3’s, 5’s, 10’s
- Compare and order numbers
- Identify place value
- Identify and extend patterns
- Master addition facts to 20 without regrouping
- Master basic subtraction facts without regrouping
- Identify symbols
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- Picture and name fractions
- Measure inches, feet and centimeters
- Compare volume and mass
- Tell time to the half hour
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Identify and count pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters
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Create, read and write observations from graphs |
| Science and Social Studies |
Science and Social Studies will be taught in units and themes.
| Science is divided into four units |
Social Studies |
- A Healthy Body
- Earth Science
- Life Science
- Physical Science
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- The students will learn about communities.
- Different Cultures
- The World Around Them
- Simple Map Skills
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Also incorporated weekly into our schedule are Spanish, Music, Art, Physical Education, Computer Technology and Media.
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