Grade 1

Below is a list of 2008-09 forms and information for Grade 1 students. All forms are due in the office by August 1, 2008. Students may not start School without a completed General Information Form on file.

Grade 1 students meet in the main Lower and Middle School building. There are two classes of 17 students, each with a certified teacher and a shared assistant.

The core curriculum at this level includes Barton reading and spelling methods, and phonics work in conjunction with the "Words Their Way" word study program. There are flexible reading groups which use the Harcourt Brace series. The Accelerated Reader program is used as an enrichment tool as well. Daily writing moving from inventive to more conventional spelling, hands-on math readiness groups using the Houghton Mifflin textbook, the Handwriting Without Tears method and various science and social studies topics round out the academic aspects of the Grade 1 program.

Topics studied in Grade 1 include All About Me, colors, apples, autumn, holidays, Native Americans, Pilgrims, Thanksgiving, winter, penguins, weather, special days, fairy tales, the Rainforest, plants, oceans and pets.

Grade 1 students visit the science and computer labs weekly, and have library and guidance once a week as well. Students continue with the half-year each instruction of French and Spanish two times each week, and physical education three times a week. Students also enjoy music and art classes twice each week.

First graders participate in the once a week assembly with their Lower School peers, and take several field studies throughout the year. A Grade 1 highlight is the annual field trip to the Baltimore Aquarium. First grade produces a play every year in addition to performing in the Winter Holiday and Grandparents Day programs.

First graders connect with reading buddies in the fifth grade to read several times each month. Students at this level also benefit from the Parent Buddy Reader program.

Grade 1 students are assessed for letter/sound knowledge at the beginning and end of the year. The STAR reading test is used, when appropriate, to determine a grade equivalent reading ability. Informal spelling inventories are used to determine group placement, as are math skills tests. The CTOPP test is given to all Grade 1 students to alert teachers of students who have difficulties with phonological processing. If such a deficit is discovered, the Barton reading program is instituted through one-on-one resource assistance.

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