First Grade
First grade at St. Joseph’s Catholic School is a positive step for students because they become independent learners and thinkers. First grade is a bridge entering elementary school, leaving kindergarten filled with academics and individual growth, emotionally becoming a more faithful Catholic. Through field trips, all-school activities, and parental involvement, students flourish in first grade as Eagles!
Religion: Through daily outdoor assembly and weekly Mass, children in first grade truly start to recognize God. In first grade, students learn about the Holy Trinity, Mary, and other saints. Students understand the importance of Jesus dying to save us, and rising again. Students understand making positive choices and forgiving others as well. Through weekly school Mass, students learn appropriate behavior, demonstrating the sign of the cross, and saying prayers. First grade is also involved in a class service project which is worked on monthly.
English Language Arts: First grade continues to use The Superkids Reading Program that was introduced in kindergarten. Students are able to decode sounds, identify sight words, rhyming words, word families, differentiate between short/long vowels, and blending sounds together. Students gain the skills to comprehend and read fluently with expression, and are able to use punctuation correctly. Skills are reinforced including forming uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as writing multiple sentences to tell students’ thoughts and stories.
Math: Many of first grade’s math skills are introduced in kindergarten but extended and mastered by using hands-on manipulatives and partner/group work. Concepts include: identifying and extending patterns, identifying and writing numbers 0-100, comparing numbers 0-100 (less than, greater than, between), knowing place value to the hundreds place, counting by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s, sorting objects into different classifications, identifying different shapes and geometric figures, knowing the days of the week and months of the year, solving story problems (with hands-on manipulatives), and introduction to telling time and counting money.
Science: Students in first grade are able to identify their five senses, seasons of the year, and different types of weather. Students absolutely love learning about animals (mammals, reptiles, insects and amphibians), their habitats, food chain, but best yet- creating their own animal diorama! They are also exposed to many scientific concepts in STEM class.
Social Studies: First grade is a critical year when students learn where they live in relation to their world. We take a look at the history of the United States including its foundings: Native Americans, Pilgrims, and the thirteen colonies. Through Superkids Magazines, students are exposed to real life scenarios and situations that lead to critical thinking. With the use of picture books, students learn about previous presidents, current national symbols, and landmarks.
Religion: Through daily outdoor assembly and weekly Mass, children in first grade truly start to recognize God. In first grade, students learn about the Holy Trinity, Mary, and other saints. Students understand the importance of Jesus dying to save us, and rising again. Students understand making positive choices and forgiving others as well. Through weekly school Mass, students learn appropriate behavior, demonstrating the sign of the cross, and saying prayers. First grade is also involved in a class service project which is worked on monthly.
English Language Arts: First grade continues to use The Superkids Reading Program that was introduced in kindergarten. Students are able to decode sounds, identify sight words, rhyming words, word families, differentiate between short/long vowels, and blending sounds together. Students gain the skills to comprehend and read fluently with expression, and are able to use punctuation correctly. Skills are reinforced including forming uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as writing multiple sentences to tell students’ thoughts and stories.
Math: Many of first grade’s math skills are introduced in kindergarten but extended and mastered by using hands-on manipulatives and partner/group work. Concepts include: identifying and extending patterns, identifying and writing numbers 0-100, comparing numbers 0-100 (less than, greater than, between), knowing place value to the hundreds place, counting by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s, sorting objects into different classifications, identifying different shapes and geometric figures, knowing the days of the week and months of the year, solving story problems (with hands-on manipulatives), and introduction to telling time and counting money.
Science: Students in first grade are able to identify their five senses, seasons of the year, and different types of weather. Students absolutely love learning about animals (mammals, reptiles, insects and amphibians), their habitats, food chain, but best yet- creating their own animal diorama! They are also exposed to many scientific concepts in STEM class.
Social Studies: First grade is a critical year when students learn where they live in relation to their world. We take a look at the history of the United States including its foundings: Native Americans, Pilgrims, and the thirteen colonies. Through Superkids Magazines, students are exposed to real life scenarios and situations that lead to critical thinking. With the use of picture books, students learn about previous presidents, current national symbols, and landmarks.