1st Grade Curriculum
Reading
The reading program is designed to enable students to read with expression and comprehension. It emphasizes the use of the beginning Carden™ Vowel Chart. The main idea of a sentence is expressed in the form of a title, incorporating the vocabulary word into the title. Vocabulary is developed to increase the speaking and reading vocabulary of students. Besides the Carden™ Readers, the books studied are The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Tale of Benjamin Bunny and its workbook. The children are responsible for three book reports in the spring. Reading comprehension is further developed with reading comprehension workbooks.
Spelling
The purpose of the Carden™ spelling method is to teach children to listen to a word, break it down into its individual sounds, and construct the word sound by sound. The vowel chart assists them in sounding out new words. They are taught the primary vowel "controls" which govern the pronunciation and spelling of words.
Spelling consists of dictation of words and sentences that are reviewed in class. The spelling workbook is for further development of using vowel controls to master spelling techniques.
Language and Writing
Proper use of the period, question mark, and exclamation mark
Proper capitalization
Identification of the "doing," the "who-doing," and the "who-doing-what"
Identification of the key word and title
Poems from My First Poetry Book copied, illustrated, and recited
The Graduation Workbook offers analysis of poems
Printing with manuscript letter formation, introduction of cursive writing in January
A short Carden™ story writing pattern is introduced
French
Counting, colors, songs, rhymes, phrases and simple objects
Mathematics
Memorization of addition and subtraction facts through 9
Addition and subtraction, beginning with single digits and building to four-place
Daily math dictation and word problems
Terminology: addend, minuend, subtrahend, sum, and remainder
Writing the numbers to 100
Learning addition pairs
Science
Topics included are animals and their habitats, plants, weather, physical science and the human body.
Social Studies
Character counts lessons: introducing, practicing and reinforcing proper, respectful behavior
Farm unit: culture and vocabulary
Art and Art Appreciation
Directional art experienced in the reading workbooks
Special holiday art lessons and projects
Appreciation of the works of the masters
Music
Singing and rhythmic movements
Theory: notes, lines and spaces
Appreciation of classical music
Two sessions per week with music teacher
Participation in two school programs per year
Physical Education
Students participate in a structured PE class for 30 minutes everyday with activities, games, and simple exercises. In addition, they have a 15-minute recess in the morning and another 15 minute recess in the afternoon.
Computer
The students attend a 30-minute lesson each week in the Computer lab. They work on their "point and click" skills in Table Top Jr., Word, and Print Artist.
