Lower School - First Grade Language Arts

The First Grade language arts program is comprised of these areas: composition and grammar, handwriting, phonemic awareness/ phonics, reading/literature, and spelling.

• Phonemic Awareness/ Phonics – First Grade utilizes the Saxon Phonics program which enables most children to develop a solid foundation in phonics and thus become successful readers and spellers. The program presents new learning in small increments that children review daily for the entire year. Phonemic awareness is the understanding that the sound of a word consists of a sequence of smaller, individual sounds. Phonics teaches children strategies to apply sound-symbol relationships to assist in the identification of unfamiliar words.

• Reading/ Literature – First Grade uses the Houghton Mifflin reading series as a guide for teaching reading strategies, comprehension, listening/speaking/viewing skills, reading for different genres, and high frequency word recognition.

• Composition and Grammar – First graders learn to form simple sentences leading into the understanding of the formation of a simple paragraph. The conventions of proper grammar and punctuation are introduced.

 

• Handwriting – First grade teaches the Zaner Bloser style and formation of letters. Handwriting is explicitly taught; as well as proper body and paper positioning. Keyboarding is taught in conjunction with handwriting through the use of the program Type to Learn Jr.

• Spelling – First grade utilizes the Saxon Phonics spelling program. Spelling lists correspond with daily phonics lessons and taught sight words.

Leadership

Leadership Education permeates all levels of our teaching. It begins with us: the lives we lead and project; the routines within our classrooms, our hallways, our playing fields, and the curricular choices we make. 

• Self Awareness – Students learn to read, write, and spell with confidence.

• Academics – Students must make adequate progress in all areas of Language Arts.
• Coaching (mentoring) – Students praise each other’s reading through partner reading, ghost reading, and round robin.
• Reading – Students learn to appreciate literature through teacher read-alouds, author studies, and independent reading.
• Adversity/Challenges/Opportunities – Students become confident public speakers by reading literature and journal writing in front of peers and teachers.
• Leadership Observation – Students study authors and leader portraits. They also observe positive teacher modeling.
• Experience Leadership/Community Service – Students participate in service projects and a winter program.