2022-23 1st Grade Admission Brochure

First Grade

First Grade Overview

The goal of the first grade curriculum is to instill in each student an excitement for learning and a positive attitude toward school and the learning process. Our daily schedule progresses according to the needs of our students and the events of the day. Teachers make adjustments to the schedule as needed; however, they work to establish routines that make our students’ day structured and predictable. Teachers utilize a variety of instructional techniques that allow for differentiated instructions in multiple modalities, such as audio, visual, and kinesthetic teaching strategies. Lessons are taught in a variety of ways, ranging from whole-class to small-group to individual instruction.

Children are taught in a loving, Christian environment while being provided an interactive, engaging learning experience based on current research and proven educational practices. The children are involved in philanthropic activities that encourage them to care for their communities. They are also provided with opportunities to showcase their talents in performing arts through leading devotions for the lower school and performing in the spring musical.

Program Highlights: We provide a variety of meaningful learning experiences that foster each child’s character and academic development. These opportunities lead students along their educational journey.

• Philanthropic Focus: Our philanthropic focus is taking care of animals and their habitats. We work with the Center for Philanthropic Studies to learn about local animals and their homes. In order to increase our awareness of animal needs, we visit the Nashville Zoo and work to discover ways to take better care of animal habitats.

• Winter Performing Arts Program: Our first grade performs patriotic and traditional melodies to highlight the spirit of America.

Academic Highlights

Literacy:

• Reading appropriate grade-level texts with phonemic awareness

• Reading fluently with expression

• Identifying story elements (characters, setting, problem, solution, main idea)

• Predicting and anticipating what will happen next

• Using context clues to identify vocabulary in texts

• Non-fiction text elements

Math:

• Understanding addition and subtraction

• Understanding and using a variety of strategies to solve word problems

• Understanding and using numbers through twenty fluently

• Identifying and working with fractional parts of regions

• Applying spelling skills in writing

• Writing in complete sentences using capitalization and correct punctuation

• Demonstrating an understanding of standard English grammar when speaking and writing

• Engaging in purposeful reading and writing

• Development of phonemic and phonological awareness

• Collecting, organizing, and interpreting data

• Understanding patterns and utilizing models to represent mathematical situations

• Understanding place value (ones, tens, hundreds)

• Calculating and comparing value of coin combinations

• Working with numbers to 120

Science: Social Studies:

• Observing and recording

• Engaging in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning activities

• States of matter

• Life science principals

• Structure, life cycle and ecosystems of plants

• Understanding and using maps

• Communities and community helpers

• Cultural understanding

• Economics

• Government and civics - state symbol, patriotic traditions

• Tennessee geography

First Grade Program Schedule

7:45 a.m. Arrival: Students are greeted as they unpack and engage in morning work activities.

7:50 a.m. Devotion: During this special time, students will have the opportunity to share prayer requests and praises. We then read together and discuss a Bible story and verse before closing with prayer time. On Wednesdays, we attend a lower school chapel program led by various FRA staff members and individual classrooms.

8 a.m. Writing: The approach to teaching writing that interweaves academic and social/emotional learning. We use authentic children’s literature to create a collaborative classroom environment where teachers facilitate student discussion, provide a model for the respectful exchange of ideas, and help students develop their own voices. Students focus on narrative, informational, and opinionated writing.

8:30 a.m. Enrichments: Students attend one of five enrichment classes for 45 minutes each day: STEM Lab • Guidance • Performing Arts • Visual Arts • Spanish • Media Center

9:15 a.m. Phonics: Students participate in a whole-group lesson that addresses a literacy strategy or skill through interactive read alouds and shared reading.

Small Groups: Students work with the teacher in a small group. During this time, the teacher provides differentiated instruction that addresses the students’ specific needs as readers.

10:15 a.m. Recess: First grade students enjoy a common recess time on the playground.

10:45 a.m. Reading Comprehension: This curriculum fosters greater independence and daily practice in all major components of literacy: independently reading to self, reading to someone, working on a writing piece, word study, and listening to fluent reading.

11:15 a.m. Grammar: Grammar curriculum is used as students work on developing skills and strategies that will enrich their own personal writings on top of what is being learned in reading comprehension. Our mission is to cultivate independence and a strong love for learning.

12 p.m. Lunch

12:30 p.m. Physical Education: All first grade students will participate in P.E. together for 30 minutes daily.

12:40 p.m. Writing

1 p.m. Math: The Math in Focus curriculum uses problem solving to develop deep conceptual understanding. Concepts are taught through a concrete, pictorial, and abstract progression involving real-life, hands-on experiences. BUILD Math Centers and manipulatives are used to accompany the curriculum. Through these centers, students solve math problems in many different ways, and teachers meet daily with small groups that are fluid based upon the child’s strengths and weaknesses in four main categories: algebraic thinking, measurement and data, numbers and operations, and geometry.

2 p.m. Science/Social Studies: We use the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as a guide to our science curriculum. Students explore units in life science, earth science, physical science, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). In social studies, students learn about the world in which they live by learning various map skills, studying landforms, economics, and exploring Tennessee geography.

2:45 p.m. Departure: Homework folders are given out and students gather their belongings before going to After School Extended Care, an after-school enrichment, or home.