+ MATHEMATICS

Into Math by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company is the text used to support the first grade math curriculum. This text correlates with the Common Core.

The primary skills taught in first grade include: addition and subtraction, employing multiple strategies such as using pictures, taking models apart, adding doubles, adding doubles plus and minus one, counting backwards, and using related facts; counting by ones, twos, fives, and tens up to 120; comparing numbers using greater than, less than, or equal to symbols; measurement, both nonstandard and standards units of length; time, to the hour and half hour; creating and reading picture graphs, and bar graphs, as well as tally marks; exploring three-dimensional and two-dimensional shapes, including taking apart and putting shapes together and understanding equal and unequal parts, halves and quarters.

+ RELIGION

The Archdiocese of Boston provides Faith Formation Standards to guide the teaching and practice of the Roman Catholic faith for elementary school students. In 1st grade we focus on God and the Holy Trinity, the Sacraments, the parts of the church, understanding and practicing the moral teachings of the church, learning more about God through scripture and more about Jesus’ life on earth. We also recognize and honor Mary, our Blessed Mother, as we pray the Rosary.

Students attend Catholic Mass in Saint Patrick’s Parish. They learn parts of the Catholic Mass and prayers. The children are also introduced to our Patron, Saint Patrick, as well as many other saints throughout the liturgical year, as we recognize feast days. All are welcome to attend mass with us during the school year.

Students perform the nativity at our Annual Christmas Pageant which the third grade narrates. The first graders are paired with the 7th graders as “Mass Buddies.” We attend mass with our buddies. The first grade class is also in charge of organizing and participating in a prayer service or mass at the end of the school year.

+ LANGUAGE ARTS

First grade students are provided explicit, systematic instruction in Reading. We utilize the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Journeys text. The Journeys curriculum is aligned with the Common Core Standards and provides explicit, systematic instruction in the areas of reading, fluency, language, writing, speaking and listening. Developing skillful readers and writers is pertinent and is the fundamental goal of the Language Arts program.

At the beginning of first grade, students continue to build upon foundational skills. They receive instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding and word attack skills, and are also taught academic vocabulary, comprehension skills and strategies. They review beginning, medial, and final consonant sounds and move on to learn short and long vowels. Later, they learn blends, digraphs, and high-frequency words. All of the skills learned are reinforced in spelling. In reading, the children grow from emergent readers into beginning readers. They build upon their fluency skills by participating in guided reading groups, choral reading, paired reading and independent silent reading.

Students read a variety of genres from high-quality literature such as the Journeys Anthology, picture books, poetry, informational texts and trade books. The students explore literary elements such as plot, setting, characterization, and main idea. Skills such as sequencing of events, drawing conclusions, and retelling a story are reinforced to deepen comprehension. In grammar and writing, the Voyages in English book by Loyola Press is used along with supplemental materials. Three sets of skills are taught simultaneously throughout the book. They are basic skills in grammar, spelling, and writing. The students learn simple sentence structure, spelling rules, punctuation, and parts of speech. Students also understand and apply the skills learned in Writer’s Workshop. The Language Arts program offers a wealth of opportunities for the students to master the Common Core State Standards.

+ SOCIAL STUDIES

First graders will acquire map skills and apply them through group based projects, and as a class, learn specifically what a compass rose is, how to follow directions, what a map key is and how to use it. Students will learn about many famous Americans including Johnny Appleseed, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Martin Luther King, Jr. (to name a few) through Scholastic News articles, smart board presentations, books, and videos. First graders will also learn the history of various holidays, including how people around the world celebrate Christmas. They will also learn about civics, citizenship, elections, and United States symbols. Some basic economics are introduced as we discuss wants and needs, supply and demand, and the connection between geography and economics.

+ SCIENCE

The first grade science curriculum is based on the Mass Frameworks and the New Common Core State Standards. Students gain an understanding of all of the sciences (earth, physical and life sciences) by actively participating in activities that encourage inquiry. Emphasis is placed on the development of science process skills. All units are designed to heighten students’ awareness of the world around them.

They discover and learn about the world around them by using their five senses. They also learn by observing, predicting, investigating, questioning, and analyzing. Students have many opportunities to engage in discussions, experiments, and activities that enhance a better understanding of scientific skills and concepts. Some of the science unit topics covered are living things, life cycles, the earth and space, habitats, Arctic animals, weather and seasons.

+ SPECIALS

All students participate in specials that compliment the rigorous classroom curricula throughout the school year. Art, Physical Education, Music, STEAM, and Spanish are offered to all students from grades Kindergarten through grade 8.

Students begin to experience the Spanish language 1x per week starting in kindergarten through grade 5. Middle School students take Spanish 3x per week.