COURSE DESCRIPTION

English: The student will be immersed in a text -rich environment to develop communication skills, phonological awareness, phonetic skills, vocabulary, comprehension, and use reading materials as sources of information and enjoyment. The student will use listening and speaking skills to participate in classroom discussions. The student will use a variety of strategies to read new words and will read familiar selections with fluency, accuracy, and expression. The student will continue to develop an understanding of fiction and nonfiction texts. The student will increase vocabulary and comprehension strategies by cross-content reading with emphasis on materials in mathematics, science, and history and social science. The student will write in a variety of forms to communicate ideas. The student will continue to research to answer questions and solve problems by using available resources.

Math:  The first-grade standards place emphasis on counting, comparing, and ordering sets of up to 110 objects; recognizing and describing simple repeating and growing patterns; and tracing, describing, and sorting plane figures. Students’ understanding of number is expanded through recognizing and describing part-whole relationships for numbers up to 10, solving story and picture problems using addition and subtraction within 20; using nonstandard units to measure; and organizing and interpreting data. Fractional concepts will be expanded through sharing scenarios involving halves and fourths. 

Science: In first-grade science, students become aware of factors that affect their daily lives. Students continue to learn about the basic needs of all living things and that living things respond to factors in their environment, including weather and the change of season. They continue the examination of matter by observing physical properties and how materials interact with light. Throughout the elementary years, students will develop scientific skills, supported by mathematics and computational thinking, as they learn science content. In first grade, students will develop skills in posing simple questions, conducting simple investigations, observing, classifying, and communicating information about the natural world. Students are introduced to the engineering design process. 

Social Studies: The first grade standards introduces students to a variety of content. Students should develop basic map skills. They should study the economic concepts of goods and services, consumers and producers, and making economic choices. Students should learn to apply the traits of a good citizen and recognize that communities in Virginia have local governments. They should learn that communities include people who have diverse ethnic origins, customs, and traditions, who make contributions to their communities, and who are united as Americans by common principles. 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Go to "Contact the Teacher" page

GRADING POLICY & HANDBOOK

Grading Scale:

A= 90-100         B= 80-89       C= 70-79           D= 60-69          F= below 60

Grade Weights

Summative Assessments (Gold Category) = 40%

“Short-Cycle” Assessments (Silver Category) = 35%

Classwork/Warm up (Bronze Category) = 25%

Please click on the link to access the  PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK. 

ATTENDANCE

Attendance

Parents of students who are absent must inform the school of the reason for the absence no later than upon the student’s return to school. Absences are excused for the following reasons:

  • Illness (if over two days, may require a note from a doctor)
  • Required court appearance
  • Death in the family
  • Religious holiday
  • Field trips and school authorized activities; and
  • Extenuating circumstances which are determined by the school administration.

Whenever your child is absent from school, please use this Absence/Excuse Notes form to submit your excuse.

HOMEWORK

  •  Students should spend at least 45 minutes each evening practicing skills needed in order to be successful.
  • Spend 15 minutes reading a book of their choice each evening.
  • Students will choose two activities from the choice board below (15 minutes for each).

SUPPLIES

  • Text books
  • Manipulatives
  • Pencils & colored pencils
  • Notebooks
  • Fundations materials

EXPECTATIONS