Welcome to first grade at Rolling
Hills! We believe this is the year
for children to develop as learners, beginning to work more independently while
maintaining the joy of discovering something new about themselves and their
world each day.
In first grade, we emphasize the
values of respect, responsibility, and safety, and work to provide an
environment in which each child can grow and develop along his own unique path.
Reading
We believe reading is a critical skill
to be mastered by first graders.
The day is filled with the teacher reading to the students and students
reading together in large group, in small skill-based groups, and independently. Decoding and phonics are practiced with
word families and leveled readers.
Comprehension skills are developed through investigating story
structures and text organization, retelling, and discussing problem and
solution, as well as cause and effect. Reading materials include fiction and non-fiction, prose and
poetry, and books and articles.
Writing
First graders write for a variety of
purposes and audiences, such as personal narratives, fiction stories, research
reports, and friendly letters.
Grammar, mechanics, and spelling are taught directly
and incorporated into authentic writing projects.
Math
Everyday Math provides a
problem-solving approach based on everyday situations. There is a variety of engaging formats
for frequent practice of basic skills.
The instructional approach revisits concepts regularly. It provides a curriculum that explores
mathematical content beyond basic arithmetic. We extend the program with regular computation practice.
Social Studies
Throughout the year, we integrate units
focused on our families, keeping fit and healthy, and countries and cultures
within the continent of Asia.
Science
We introduced the FOSS science unit of
Solids and Liquids which focuses on learning important concepts and processes
through hands-on activities. We
also include science units on the Earth’s land and water resources, and all
kinds of living things.