First Grade
More About 1st Grade
ELA
Students in first grade develop the learning skills necessary to decode words and begin using those skills to build reading comprehension. The Spalding phonics method is a trademark of The Traditional Academy at Bellair’s first-grade curriculum. This method uses phonograms, the ‘keys’ to reading. By the end of first grade, all phonograms have been mastered and are reviewed weekly.
Students are introduced to proper sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and composition. Writing skills are learned through student-generated writing and corrective editing, a much more effective method than worksheet-based programs. This approach allows teachers to place emphasis on the student’s final products. Students can write complete, related simple sentences with correct punctuation and capitalization by the end of first grade. This is the beginning of paragraph development, which is taught in second grade.
Manuscript writing is taught using precise, specific instruction methods. Students learn 30 new spelling words each week. They practice their writing skills by using spelling words in sentence writing practice.
Math
First-grade students at The Traditional Academy at Bellair are accelerated in math by one grade. In Saxon Math Second Grade curriculum students will learn how to add and subtract up to three digits with and without regrouping; telling time to the nearest minute; how to measure in inches, feet, and centimeters; and how to use addition and subtraction to solve word problems. Saxon Math provides our students with a spiral review that allows them to practice all skills throughout the year.
Social Studies
Our Place in the World: Students learn about Being a Good Citizen, Our Community, Celebrating America, Past and Present, and People and Money.
Science
Students will learn about Light and Sounds, Force and Motion, Habitats, and Life Cycles.