First Grade

First Grade at Forestdale

When six and seven year old students arrive in first grade, they are alive with energy and enthusiasm! This is a year of tremendous growth physically, cognitively, and emotionally. Children enter first grade at many developmental levels, however, one thing they have in common is the need to be active participants in their learning.

Here at Forestdale, our first grade team is committed to developmentally appropriate practices. Our team works cooperatively and collaboratively, sharing best practices, linked together with our parent community to ensure a dynamic learning experience

Here's what a day in the life of a first grader may look like at the Forestdale School.

Morning Meeting

Each day begins with a morning meeting. This is a time to build community, teach problem solving skills, and develop socially appropriate behavior through various games and activities.

Language Arts

Research has shown that every child learns to read differently. We are partners with Lesley University Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative. Through our ongoing work with Literacy Collaborative, we embrace our own professional growth, with a focus on developing strategies to engage all learners. Our Literacy Framework is a Workhsop model, which provides various activities and varied opportunities for all children. Reading instruction is multi-level as possible to meet the individual child and help him/her move forward. The components of this model are: Guided Reading - Literacy Centers, Teacher Read Alouds, Shared Reading, , Phonics and Spelling, Partner Reading, Independent Reading, and Writing Workshop.

Math

First Grade math focuses on number sense and gaining an understanding of the basic operations of addition and subtraction. We use the Everyday Math Program as well as Guided Math centers where students learn in a hands on environment with manipulatives. Research has shown that relationships between numbers are more easily understood through concrete exploration.

Science

Developmentally, first graders learn best when given the opportunity to explore, experiment, observe, and record. Areas we explore are: Earth Science - Sun, Moon, Stars. Physical Science - Light and Sound. Life Science - Plants and Animals. Technology and Engineering Design.

Social Studies

Children learn about their roles in the classroom community, and expand their studies to include school community, and the town of Sandwich community. Mapping skills are introduced, the seven continents and oceans, and children explore traditions and celebrations in the United States .

First Grade Team

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