Math
Our math curriculum is called Everyday Mathematics. Please take a look at the Parent Page on Everyday Mathematics' website for more information:Everyday Mathematics' Parent Page
Science
First graders learn about science concepts through four units of study:
Balancing and Weighing
How can we balance objects?
Balls and Ramps
How do objects move?
Sun, Moon and Stars
Organisms
How are living and nonliving things unique?
Social Studies
We also have four units of study for our Social Studies curriculum:
Famous Americans
What are some qualities that make a famous American?
Goods and Services
How do we use goods and services in our community?
Mapping
What is a map? What do all maps have in common?
American Symbols
What are symbols? Why do we have symbols in America?
Daily 5
Our literacy block is organized to follow the Daily 5 program. The goal of Daily 5 is for students to develop a lifelong love of reading and writing and complete literacy tasks that are engaging and meaningful. Students can choose from the following activities:
Read to Self
Work on Writing
Listen to Reading
Word Work
Read to Someone
At the beginning of the year, our main focus is to become independent during Daily 5 and build our stamina for independence. We work together, reflect and discuss how we can help one another do our personal best and be "good learning partners." Each activity is introduced one at a time and is practiced in an explicit way that promotes the success of every child.
Once we have built up our stamina and students are engaged in literacy activities, I work with small reading groups and confer with students one-on-one. This enables me to spend focused time with all students and tailor instruction based on individual strengths and areas of need. Skills taught through small group and individual instruction can then be reinforced during all Daily 5 activities.
Writer's Workshop
The Westford Public Schools' writing program is based on Lucy Calkin's Units of Study for Primary Writing. Objectives include selecting a topic and sketching it, adding more to our pictures and words, adding pages, writing for a purpose, and celebrating authors.We also focus on the conventions of writing, such as using punctuation, using uppercase letters appropriately, leaving spaces between our words, and using handwriting according to our Handwriting Without Tears program.
Writer's Workshop sessions typically begin with a small, focused lesson about a specific writing technique or skill. After the lesson, students work independently while I conference and check in. Finally, we conclude Writer's Workshop with an opportunity for students to share what they have worked on and how they have used the skill we focused on at the beginning of the session.
High Frequency Words
First graders are expected to be able to read and write 85 out of 100 High Frequency Words. For a list of the High Frequency Words, please click on the following link:List of First Grade High Frequency Words
