In first
grade, we use Gwinnett County’s Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) to
drive our curriculum. All content areas have specific objectives that
are to be introduced or mastered during first grade.
Language
Arts
is divided into several areas
including listening and speaking, reading, concepts of print, phonics,
grammar, spelling, and writing. The students use reading and writing
throughout the day in all content areas. The teachers give students the
opportunity throughout the day to read and write. Language Arts is
taught through the use of small groups, large group, workshops, centers
and specifically guided reading groups. During guided reading groups,
students are taught techniques and strategies to help them develop into
stronger readers. Students are given the opportunity to connect their
home and school by bringing books home to read and share with their
parents. We believe this parent-teacher connection is an important part
of the students education. Spelling is a part of the curriculum from the
very first day but is not formally assessed until the middle of the
year. Each student needs to be able to spell the fifty high-frequency
words listed in the back of the first grade AKS book by the end of first
grade. The students are expected to use D’Nealian handwriting in first
grade.
Math: The students are taught to think
and communicate mathematically. They use tools and techniques to reason
mathematically and need to be able to communicate this orally and in
their writings. The math curriculum is divided into several areas
including estimation, number sense, computation, geometry, measurement,
fractions, and patterns. Mathematical ideas are present daily during
calendar time. During calendar instruction the following skills can be
taught: money, time, place value, patterns, number families, odd/even,
counting, patterns, months of the year, days of the week and
temperature. The teachers provide a hands-on approach to help students
learn and master the math AKS. Students are encouraged not only to solve
problems but describe how they solve the problem orally and through math
writings. We use Math Exemplars to challenge our students and give them
real-life mathematical situations.
Social Studies: We have many different
SocialStudies units we study throughout the year. We begin by studying
map skills and then learn about land forms and waterways. These units
include farms, grasslands, forests, mountains, deserts, rivers, ponds,
lakes, wetlands and rainforest. We study the United States and its
neighbors, Canada and Mexico. We study physical features as well as
cultural concepts.
Science/Health
- There are several
units that we cover in first grade. The units are magnets, light and
sound weather and seasons, and living things. We provide hands on
lessons to allow the students opportunities to explore and visualize
these science concepts. Our health concepts include reporting
emergencies, good health habits, safe use of medicine, nutrition, and
how to handle disagreements with others.
Assessment - Our reading
assessments include daily teacher observation, individual test, and
running reading records. Running reading records are done throughout the
year, to allow teachers and parents to know the reading level of a
student. This also helps to identify the reading strategies that the
students are using. In first grade, it is not only important to read a
story but also be able to comprehend what was read. Students’ writings
are assessed according to a 
county
rubric. This rubric is divided into stages and shows specific details
about the students writing. A student’s reading, comprehension and
writing stages are recorded 4 times a year on our Literacy Standards
form. Science, math, social studies, and health assessments are based on
classwork, special projects, journals, cooperative groups, tests, class
participation, and teacher observation. Spelling is formally assessed
beginning midway through the year. This assessment is based on their
spelling tests and daily writings.
Students
in first grade take the Georgia CRCT in April.
Grade