First Grade

READING WORKSHOP

First grade is an exciting year for students as they gain competency in reading. Immersion in a literate environment allows students the opportunity to dive into books and to explore a wide range of literary genres. Students enjoy daily read-alouds, including picture books, chapter books, and books projected on a screen so the words are easily visible for students. Sharing books with enlarged print invites students to read along with the teacher and encourages risk-taking. These shared reading experiences give students the opportunity to get lost in the world of stories and to develop their own passion for independent reading in books of their choice. (See the Reading Workshop description in the Language Arts section overview.) During Reading Workshop, mini-lessons focus on the major elements of each genre studied. In a whole group setting, mini-lessons highlight a specific skill and strategy, and students are then asked to practice the skill in their just-right books independently. Through these mini-lessons, students increase sight word recognition, develop decoding skills, and improve fluency, all of which empower students on the journey to comprehending increasingly complex texts. The classroom library is a welcoming feature of each classroom. Students explore the classroom library to “shop” for just-right books with teacher guidance. They hold five or more just-right books in their personal book bins on a weekly basis, as well as personal book choices of varying levels. Students confer individually and in small groups with their teacher about their reading and are coached while they read their just-right books. During a conference, teachers might ask students to read a small section of their just-right book aloud to monitor reading fluency, sight-word growth, and phonics knowledge and to gather data to inform instruction. Additionally, one-on-one conversations and conferences promote students’ talking about their reading and help to reveal students’ growth, thinking, opinions, reading preferences, and challenges. By mid-year, students are expected to have developed the stamina to read quietly for at least 20 minutes in their just-right books. Intended first grade units of study in reading include: • Building Good Reading Habits • Word Detectives • Learning About the World: Reading Nonfiction • Readers Have Big Jobs to Do: Fluency, Phonics, and Comprehension • Meeting Characters and Learning Lessons: A Study of Story Elements

WRITING WORKSHOP

In first grade, Writing Workshop focuses on both the craft and the mechanics of writing. As first grade students craft their own writing pieces, they often start with pictures and simple text and progress to more complex and lengthy writing with illustrations. A wide variety of read-alouds provides first grade students with immersion in a literature-rich environment. Students grow in their ability to write fluently as they become more skilled readers who understand the elements of a story. Children’s literature is often used to examine story development. Established authors and familiar stories are used to support students as they develop voice and craft their own writing. These mentor texts provide students with examples of how to convey a story with structure, focus, and guiding transitions. As students develop longer drafts, they learn to revise their work and how to use editing strategies, such as revision strips and carets. These techniques encourage students to make significant changes to their writing that help to clarify ideas and engage an audience.

Intended first grade units of study in writing include: • Small Moments: Writing with Focus, Detail, and Dialogue • How-To Writing • Nonfiction Chapter Books / “All About” Writing • Writing Reviews • From Scenes to Series: Writing Fiction