Identify
and appreciate various authors and genres
Reading:
Students will be engaged in whole class, guided small group, buddy group, and independent reading activities in first grade. Our balanced literacy approach to reading instruction fosters the development of a series of reading strategies that benefit all students. Through the use of a literature-based reading anthology series, the Wilson Fundations approach, leveled books to differentiate instruction, and literacy-based learning centers, students will be able to:
v Make correct letter/sound correspondence, including initial consonants, long and short vowels, consonant diagraphs, and consonant blends
v Use a variety of “decoding” strategies to “sound out” or identify unknown words
v Develop an extensive sight word vocabulary
v Recognize and understand the meanings of nouns, verbs, adjectives, antonyms, synonyms, contractions, possessives, and some inflectional endings
v Develop comprehension skills by making predictions, inferences, and drawing conclusions
v Retell a story using significant beginning, middle, and ending details in a logical order (sequence)
v Follow written directions
v Read for information
v Distinguish between fact/opinion and reality/fantasy
v
Identify
and appreciate various authors and genres
Writing:
In first grade, the teaching of written language is conducted through the “Writer’s Workshop” format that was developed at Columbia Teachers College. The writing curriculum consists of a series of units of study that emphasize various writing traits, genres, and conventions of our language. As students participate in units such as, authors as mentors, writing for readers, realistic fiction, non-fiction (How-To and All About books), persuasive letters, poetry, and small moments, they will be encouraged to incorporate the following writing skills:
v Write letters and numbers using proper pencil grip, as well as, proper formation and spacing according to the D’Nealian handwriting approach
v Write sentences containing a subject (naming part) and a predicate (action part)
v Use proper punctuation and capitalization
v Add details and vocabulary to make written pieces more exciting for the reader
v Write in a logical sequence using transitional, or time order words, such as; first, second, next, then, and finally.
v Orally tell a story across his/her fingers to a partner before writing (pre-writing and planning)
v Keep several sentences related to a single topic
v Write a story consisting of a beginning, middle, and end
