The over-riding goal in first grade, as in all the grades, is to meet students where they are academically and socially, challenge each student everyday, and expect that every student will love school and learning.
Students learn through hands-on engaging activities and projects. Whether the child is learning the alphabet or is already a fluent reader, programs are differentiated based on the student’s needs. Some authors and illustrators are chosen for in-depth study and the children write their own books based on the study. Reading and language arts are often integrated with the other content areas (science, social studies, art, world languages, music, PE and math) bringing greater meaning and understanding for the student. The basic skills like handwriting and phonics are addressed as building blocks for the integrated projects. Children participate in a “Take Home Reader” program (readers and nonreaders) where books are selected to match a student’s interests and skill level. Children usually read around 100 “Take home Readers” in first grade.
In addition to all of the traditional approaches to teaching math, including equations and problem solving, math is taught using hands-on manipulatives. The kinesthetic learning style is stressed, so that students actively learn the mathematical concepts that provide a strong foundation for their future math skills. Math and science activities are often integrated. The life cycle of plants is an area of study in the fall and spring. Students plant potatoes in the spring and in the fall the next first grade students harvest the potatoes. They count and weigh the potatoes, charting the results. Then the potatoes are cooked and shared with other lower school classes. The texts used are Math Land and Everyday Mathematics, although many other resources are used to supplement the texts. Math is an exciting part of the day for the children.
Social and emotional development is an important aspect of the Oak Hill experience and Oak Hill creates a safe and supportive environment that promotes children’s growth. Students learn important lessons about respect, sharing, and cooperation. The Second Step curriculum is used to teach students about empathy, problem solving, and anger management. Students learn about democracy through brainstorming class rules and participating in class meetings. Students practice their social skills during a coveted “Choice Time” each day where students play with puzzles, games, use computers, create art, build with blocks or legos, engage in imaginative play, or read (alone or with a partner). Students also learn through interacting with other communities. For example, students take a field trip annually to a preschool to share student-made books and to give a copy of their books to the preschool.
Students learn to read and write through integrated book projects. One example of an integrated project that children love is the author study. Jan Brett‘s books, The Mitten and The Umbrella are read and analyzed. The children discover that the setting in Jan Brett’s books is pivotal to the story and to the illustrations. The animals, the vegetation, and the culture of the setting are all represented in the story and in the illustrations. The borders in the books are used to forecast the next page of the book. Jan Brett is noted for her use of detailed borders which reflect symbols and patterns of the cultural setting. After completing graphic organizers of Jan Brett’s books, the students choose a country and gather the information needed to write and illustrate their own books. When the books are finished and bound the class has a book sharing party.
First graders also choose a country to research and present to their peers. Children usually come with a poster with pictures about the things they want to share. A sentence or label sometimes is used to accompany each picture and help the student remember the intended information for sharing.
Clothes, artifacts, and/or toys are often shared and help to create engaged listeners. Most students share money and words from the language of the country. Taste treats add another dimension of experience for the children when representative food from the country is shared with the other children. The presentation is open-ended so that students can follow their own interests. Questions, previously generated by the class, are meant to be suggestions. As each student presents the class learns about another country and locates the country on the world map. As a culminating event the students display their projects in the annual Earth Day Project Fair, where they share information and answer questions.
