English Language Arts is the combination of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Reading and Writing are both large parts of the First Grade curriculum.

For writing, our goal is for each student to independently organize and write explanatory, narrative, and opinion paragraphs by the end of the school year. We also will expect students to write well organized and thoughtful responses to our reading activities. We will spend time daily writing in journals, completing reading response activities, and practicing creative writing. Your child’s work will be sent home, as well as shared around the classroom.

In First Grade, your child will be introduced to many different ways to read. They will practice reading daily. The skills they will be using include guided reading (small group instruction with the teacher and other students at their reading level), independent reading, shared reading, poetry reading, and read aloud. Your child will also be able to check out books from the Learning Center (LRC), as well as from the classroom. We use a Baggie Book program, which will give your child the opportunity to check out books at his/her independent level for them to read at home with minimal help. Reading at home and at school will help your child succeed in reading, and I am looking forward to working with you on this skill!

To be a successful reader, students must be able to read first grade high frequency words within 3 seconds. These words are read from memory and should not be sounded out. We will focus on a few words each week. Once your child has shown mastery in the given high frequency words, they will be given new words to focus on to help continue their growth. Spelling will be monitored and instructed through practice in the classroom. Your child will be given the tools and strategies on how to find and spell needed words.