First+Grade+Curriculum

=Guided Reading = Guided Reading takes up 2 - 2 1/2 hours of our day. I teach reading in small groups of 2 - 5 students at a time. During guided reading group time we work on improving our decoding skills, learn what to do when we come to a tricky word, and we learn about the elements of a book. Some groups might also do word work with magnetic letters and wipe-off boards during guided reading. The students' needs guide the instruction. After first quarter, students will have reading homework about 2 nights a week. =Daily 5 = While a guided reading group is working with me, the rest of the class works in Daily 5 areas. At the beginning of the Guided Reading Block, we start at the carpet in a whole group setting. I teach a 10 minute mini-lesson that is literacy based. Then students work independently in a literacy area for 20 - 30 minutes. They get to choose which area they would like to go to, but they can only visit an area once during the day. Daily 5 areas include: Working With Words, Working on Writing, Read to Self, Read to Someone, and Listening. =Writers Workshop = Writer's Workshop starts with a 10 minute mini-lesson focused on one writing skill. Students are then given 30 - 45 minutes of independent writing time. While students are independently writing, I am conducting one-on-one conferences with students. Each student gets a one-on-one conference each week. During a conference, the student shares a piece of writing with me and is given the chance to ask questions. I give the student a praise and a prompt when they share their writing with me.

= Spelling = ﻿ We use Zaner-Blozer spelling program. We also incorporate word work in our spelling program. Students will bring a spelling list home or 5 -6 words each Monday and test on those words each Friday.  =Saxon Math = Our math program is Saxon Math. Saxon is a spiral program. That means it introduces a concept and continues to come back to it every so often to reinforce that concept. In first grade addition facts are a large part of our math curriculum. Monday - Thursday students will have 1 - 2 pages of math homework. <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> =<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">Author Studies = <span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We will study many authors throughout the year. When we study an author, we will read many of their books, research the author, and study their writing style. <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> =<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">Themes = <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Each month our activities and books we read will revolve around a central theme.

<span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**August** - Oceans <span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**September** - Apples, Johnny Appleseed <span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**October** - Spiders, Halloween <span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**November** - Native Americans, Thanksgiving <span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**December** - Christmas <span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**January** - Snow, Penguins <span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**February** - Dental Health Month, Valentine's Day, Black History Month, President's Month <span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**March** - Weather, Frogs <span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**April** - Eggs, Butterflies <span style="color: #7906ac; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**May** - Zoo