Grade 1

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Language Arts & Literature Hide

TEXTBOOKS

Open Court

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Develop oral, listening, speaking, and writing skills.
• Communicate ideas orally and in writing clearly.
• Expand basic sight vocabulary and learn grade level sight words.
• Increase ability to decode and encode words.
• Listen for word syllables.
• Continue to develop phonetic and spelling skills.
• Apply spelling rules to written work.
• Learn to look for visual clues and listen for what makes sense.
• Use different reading comprehension skills and strategies.
• Demonstrate an understanding of story structure.
• Demonstrate competency in using punctuation and capitalization.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Phonemic Awareness
• Phonics –[word families, short and long vowels, consonant clusters and digraphs, word endings (s, ing, ed)]
• Oral Fluency
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing Process Strategies - grammar, usage, and mechanics
• Spelling and Vocabulary

GRADING POLICY

Students are evaluated using a combination of published assessments (Open Court) and portfolio samples of students' work. Monthly samples of reading and writing are evaluated for continued progress. Throughout the year, teachers will evaluate written work for progress in how previously taught spelling rules, word patterns, sight vocabulary and mechanics (punctuation, capitalization) are being applied in written work. Evaluations occur several times during the year, beginning in the fall. Progress in Language Arts development is evaluated on the quarterly Progress Report Checklists.

HOMEWORK POLICY

There will be reading skills assignments during the week.

Mathematics Hide

TEXTBOOKS

Everyday Math Journal 1 & Math Journal 2.

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Apply math strategies to find solutions.
• Learn to skip count by two's, five's, and ten's.
• Develop and learn counting up and counting back.
• Learn math facts, addition and subtraction.
• Identify two and three-dimensional shapes.
• Apply mental math to find missing addend or difference.
• Use standard and nonstandard measurements.
• Identify time by hour, half-hour, and quarter hour.
• Identify and use coins in combination.
• Recognize place value by hundreds, tens, and ones.
• Program and count with a calculator.
• Learn fractional parts and fraction notation.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Numeration, operations, and computation.
• Patterns and functions.
  Algebra and Geometry.
• Measurement, reference frames, data, and chance.

GRADING POLICY

Student assessment is ongoing throughout the year, using Everyday Mathematics resources "Checking Progress" (for each unit 1-10) and Individual Profile of Progress Checklists (quarterly). Samples of math journal work provide information about the students' individual growth in using mathematics vocabulary expressing mathematical thinking, and applying appropriate mathematical processes to complete tasks. Teachers also look at students' oral participation in math discussions and performance on math assignments to evaluate progress.

HOMEWORK POLICY

Home links are assigned from Monday through Thursday. Completed home links should have the student’s name at the top.

Social Studies Hide

TEXTBOOKS

I Know A Place (Houghton Mifflin)

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Develop self-awareness, show concern and respect for others
• Learn the symbols, icons and traditions of the United States.
• Learn to share individual knowledge and gifts.
• Take responsibility in making good decisions.
• Explore cultural heritage.
• Show responsibility in caring for the Earth.
• Identify the continents, oceans and countries in North America.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Values including self-awareness, friendship, and respect.
• Farm and harvest.
• Houses and homes.
• Winter holiday celebrations.
• Cultural diversity.
• Environmental awareness.
• San Francisco, a city port.

GRADING POLICY

Interactions that show respect and appreciation for others will be observed in class. Responses during group discussions and attitude in related social studies activities will also be evaluated. It is our goal that students will contribute to the life of the classroom and school community.

HOMEWORK POLICY

Occasional assignments related to Social Studies topics will be given.

Science Hide

TEXTBOOKS

FOSS Science: Balance and Motion, Properties and Pebbles, Sand and Silt, Science Literature (Multiple Copies)

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Observe and investigate.
• Describe findings, make predictions, and record observations and data.
• Label parts of science drawings.
• Compare, sort, and categorize.
• Write and draw descriptions of a sequence of steps, events, and observations.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Life cycle of an apple, pumpkin, and animal
• Ecosystems and Californian wildlife and habitats
• Soil, sand formation, and the desert ecosystem
• Solids, liquids, and gases
• Health Education
• Force: push and pull
• Water and water resources

GRADING POLICY

Students are actively engaged in science activities. Students work with materials that allow them to explore, observe, investigate, and experiment. Written science samples of students' drawings, diagrams, journals, predictions and outcomes are evaluated for growth in scientific thinking.

HOMEWORK POLICY

Students will need to bring items from home, as needed. An animal report is required and parents should help in the research process.

Religion Hide

TEXTBOOKS

This is Our Faith and Parish Program Workbook.

OBJECTIVES

The students will:

• Come to know God as our creator who made each of us special and unique.
• Recognize the many blessings and gifts God has given us.
• Learn about Jesus and his life through scriptural stories.
• Gain a sense of responsibility to love and care for God's gifts.
• Learn common prayers that accompany religious ritual.
• Listen to stories related to class subject matter and discuss the message learned.
• Review the various feast days celebrated by the Religious of the Sacred Heart.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• God gives us many gifts.
• Jesus teaches us to love.
• Traditions of the Catholic Church.
• The Holy Spirit helps us.

GRADING POLICY

Evaluations are based on individual participation, performance on class projects, group interaction, and teacher observations.

HOMEWORK POLICY

There is no assigned homework for this class, but students are encouraged to share their finished work with their parents. There will be occasional memorization of common prayers.

Art Hide

TEXTBOOKS

There are no required textbooks for this class.

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Gain enhanced self-confidence, self-expression, and divergent thinking.
• An introduction to Art History: discovering famous artists and their work.
• Learn to use tools and materials competently and safely.
• Experience the personal satisfaction of creating art.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Recognition through exploration and observation: what do you notice? what do you wonder?
• Increased symbolic development.
• Spatial relationships including baseline concept, overlapping, and depth.
• Attributes of the line: thick/thin, strait/curved, and long/short.
• Basic colors and color variation.

GRADING POLICY

Evaluation will reflect personal effort and creative energy demonstrated in class and the student's ability to be self-directed in a less structured environment, as well as a student's general behavior.

HOMEWORK POLICY

There is no homework assigned in this class. Class time is generally sufficient for the completion of projects.

Music Hide

TEXTBOOKS

There are no required textbooks for this class.

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Develop an interest and love for making music through singing and movement.
• Gain an awareness of using their voice and body as a musical instrument.
• Learn and perform a repertoire of folk songs and singing games.
• Learn musical concepts and notation through songs and musical games.
• Read and write simple music notation.
• Develop listening skills and aural memory.
• Gain an appreciation for classical music.
• Participate and perform in assemblies as needed.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Sequential introduction of musical elements and notation with the Kodály approach.
• Simple rhythmic elements and the pentatonic system.
• Folk materials as basic repertoire.
• Traditional folk songs of America and other countries.
• Seasonal material.
• Songs that integrate with units in social studies or science.
• Simple percussion to complement children's singing and rhythm elements.

GRADING POLICY

Students are evaluated through their active participation in all music activities that include singing, moving, reading, writing, and attentive listening.

HOMEWORK POLICY

There is no assigned homework in this class.

Physical Education Hide

TEXTBOOKS

There are no required textbooks for this class.

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Develop knowledge and understanding of the importance of physical activity.
• Develop proficiency in physical skills.
• Develop vigor, endurance, strength, and body control, and motor skills.
• Learn agility in order to maintain a state of physical fitness.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Games that incorporate basic locomotion and non-locomotion skills.
• Simple and cooperative games.
• Proficiency in balance and eye-hand/eye-foot coordination.
• Object manipulation and perceptual ability and coordination.
• Experience with taking turns, problem solving, leading and following.
• Group instruction and participation in a variety of games and activities.
• Obstacle courses, balance activities, catching, and throwing balls.
• Spatial awareness and directionality.
• Beginning jump rope and tag games.
• Creative and sequential movement.

GRADING POLICY

Grades will be based heavily on participation, effort, and sportsmanship.

HOMEWORK POLICY

There is no homework for this class.

Computer Studies Hide

TEXTBOOKS

There are no textbooks required for this class.

OBJECTIVE

The students will:

• Explore a variety of software.
• Learn to manipulate a mouse, a keyboard, and Macintosh system components.
• Create simple drawings and write simple words and phrases.
• Learn to use the basic features of spell check.
• Learn basic skills for editing, formatting, and composing on a computer.
• Learn basic operation skills for media such as CD stories and slideshows.
• Continue increasing keyboard familiarity.
• Learn to access school server to access template and save work.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Activities that reinforce reading readiness.
• Computer programs that target math patterning and counting skills.
• Problem solving strategies inherent in the First Grade program.
• Basic skills training for the components of a computer.
• Basic skills instruction for a variety of software.
• Basic skills training for school server use.

GRADING POLICY

Instructors do not evaluate students on individual skills. Projects are planned carefully to integrate the work in the lab with the classroom curriculum. Any special comments are reflected in the classroom teacher’s communication with parents.

HOMEWORK POLICY

There is no assigned homework in this class.