Grade 1
First grade is a really exciting time! Students begin to focus more on building their skills in reading, writing, and math. They continue to develop socially and emotionally by working with their classmates on projects and enjoying playtime together. First grade students go to art and the library once a week. The counselor visits our class every other week. PE class is twice a week and music class is three days each week.
Literacy/Reading
In first grade, your student will become more independent in reading and writing. They will learn how to recognize different sounds in words and try more challenging words on their own. They will begin to understand the main ideas of simple stories and express their own thoughts about what they read. Their writing skills will improve as they learn to use language correctly, write in complete sentences, and spell words more accurately.
Examples of Your Child’s Work at School:
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Use phonics (matching letters with sounds) and word skills to figure out new words when reading and writing.
- Work on group projects researching and writing together with their classmates. For example, following the directions in "how-to" books.
- Participate in discussions about topics they're learning, sharing their thoughts and asking questions when they're unsure.
- Describe people, places, things, and events using details and complete sentences.
- Write simple sentences and complex sentences with more than one idea.
- Understand words with more than one meaning, figuring out which meaning is correct based on how the word is used in a sentence or paragraph. For example, deciding if "bat" means a flying animal or a stick used in baseball.
How to Help Your Child at Home:
- Encourage your child to read aloud to you often.
- Act out stories together from books, TV shows, or movies.
- Make up and tell your own stories to each other.
- Choose a new word each day that starts with a different letter. Have your child write the word and find other things that start with the same letter.
- Help your child sign up for their own library card and visit often to check out books they're excited to read with you.
Math
In first grade math, your student will learn new skills while building on what they already know. By the end of the year, they'll add and subtract numbers up to 20 (example 17 minus 8). They'll add numbers up to 100 by learning to identify the value of each digit in a number. For example, understanding that 63 is made up of six groups of ten and three single units. “I’m thinking of a number that makes 11 when added to 8. What is my number?”
Examples of Your Child’s Work at School:
- Solve word problems by using objects, drawings, and equations. For example, figuring out how many apples were eaten if there were 5 apples on the table and now there are only 3.
- Add and subtract numbers up to 20 using strategies based on the number 10. For example, to solve 13 minus 4, start with 13, take away 3 to get to 10, then subtract 1 more to reach 9.
- Quickly and accurately add and subtract numbers up to 10. For example, 2 plus 5 or 7 minus 5.
- Understand the value of digits in two-digit numbers (place value).
- Use place value to add and subtract numbers, like 38 plus 5 or 80 minus 50.
- Create new shapes by putting shapes together and split circles and rectangles into halves or fourths.
How to Help Your Child at Home:
- Look for “word problems” in real life. Example: If you open a new carton of a dozen eggs, and you use four eggs to cook dinner, close the carton and ask your child how many eggs are left.
- While putting away toys into bins, count the number of toys in two bins and ask your child how many more are in one bin compared to the other.
- Play the “I’m thinking of a number” game. For example, “I’m thinking of a number that makes 11 when added to 8. What is my number?”
Science
First grade science focuses on using patterns to predict events. Students begin to develop answers to questions such as: “What happens when materials vibrate? What would we see in a room with no light? What are some ways plants and animals meet their needs so they can survive and grow? What objects can we see in the sky?” First graders experiment and use models to guess what might happen in nature and in things people make.
Examples of Your Child’s Work at School:
- Learn about how light affects what we're able to see.
- Experiment to find out how sounds are produced.
- Use drawings or models to see how young plants and animals look similar to and different from their parents.
- Study plants and animals and guess how their structure helps them meet their needs to grow and survive.
- Watch the sky during the day and night, and use patterns like sunrise and sunset to make predictions.
How to Help Your Child at Home:
- Encourage your child to ask questions about things in nature.
- Talk with your child about how people use technology to communicate using light and sound. For example, traffic signals and mobile phones.
- Watch animals and humans caring for their young including what parents do to help keep them stay safe.
- Spend time outside during the day and at night looking at the sky. Help your child discover when they can see the sun, moon, and stars.
Social Studies
In kindergarten, students will learn more about themselves, their school, city and state. They will have opportunities to compare how life in the past is different from life today with respect to their own experiences. It's all about learning to work together and make their community better!
Examples of Your Child’s Work at School:
- Work together to make rules for their class that are fair and show leadership and responsibility. Learn about being good citizens in a democracy.
- Talk about how life is different now compared to how it was in the past. Learn about changes over time.
- Use maps, globes, and pictures to figure out how to get to different places.
- Learn that everyone is unique and has different qualities, but can also share similarities.
- Discuss problems in their classroom that affect everyone and try to find solutions together.
How to Help Your Child at Home:
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Look at old family photos and tell stories about how things were in the past compared to now.
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Talk about the rules your family follows and why they're important.
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Visit other neighborhoods and places and notice what makes them similar or different from where you live.
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Talk about the different ways you can go and routes you can take to specific places, like school or the grocery store.
· Visit museums and other places in your community that show what life was like in the past. Compare it to how life is today.
· Explore the parks and cool natural features in Iowa together. It's a great way to learn about the land around you!
21st Century Skills
What Are 21st Century Skills?
21st-century skills are essential knowledge, life abilities, career aptitudes, habits, and traits crucial for student success in the modern world. WDMCS creates age-appropriate learning opportunities to grow these skills in all students.
Students will learn how to use technology in all subjects to communicate and work well with others. They'll also practice good work habits and build on their social skills which will contribute to their success.
Examples of Your Child’s Work at School:
- Look at good and bad health and safety habits.
- Talk about what rights and responsibilities your student has in class.
- Use technology to show and share ideas for class projects.
- Learn to follow steps and/or processes to complete harder tasks.
How to Help Your Child at Home:
- Read books together that talk about skills for the 21st century, like the "Jobs People Do" series by DK Publishing.
- Find activities your child enjoys to get daily exercise and improve their coordination as they grow.
- Teach your child how to use technology responsibly with you to find games, activities, and information.
