Grade Level Expectations

Students will engage in rigorous academic learning in their core classroom throughout the school dayWe also use the WIN (What I Need) model to ensure every child receives the right level of instruction to help them grow and succeed. The goal of this model to provide:
  • Intervention for students who need additional support.
  • Practice for students who need reinforcement of grade-level skills.
  • Enrichment for students who are ready for more advanced challenges.

Reading

Students should be able to:

  • Read grade-level texts with accuracy and fluency.
  • Retell key details from a story.
  • Identify characters, setting, and major events.
  • Ask and answer questions about what they read.
  • Use phonics skills to decode unfamiliar words.
  • Read and understand informational texts.
  • Recognize common trick words automatically.

Writing

Students should be able to:

  • Write complete sentences with capitals and punctuation.
  • Write opinion pieces with a reason.
  • Write informative pieces about a topic.
  • Write narratives with a beginning, middle, and end.
  • Use phonetic spelling and increasingly correct spelling patterns.
  • Include details and descriptive words in their writing.
  • Spell trick words correctly in daily writing.

Math

Students should be able to:

  • Count, read, and write numbers to 120.
  • Add and subtract within 20 fluently.
  • Solve word problems using addition and subtraction.
  • Understand place value for tens and ones.
  • Compare numbers using greater than, less than, and equal to.
  • Tell time to the hour and half-hour.
  • Identify and describe 2-D and 3-D shapes.
  • Measure and compare lengths using standard and nonstandard units.

Science

Students should be able to:

  • Observe and describe properties of materials.
  • Understand basic life cycles of plants and animals.
  • Recognize patterns in weather and seasons.
  • Ask questions and investigate through simple experiments.
  • Record observations using drawings, charts, or writing.

Social Studies

Students should be able to:

  • Understand basic community roles and responsibilities.
  • Identify important symbols and holidays.
  • Use simple maps and understand location concepts.
  • Demonstrate citizenship through kindness, fairness, and responsibility.

Social-Emotional & Work Habits

Students should be able to:

  • Follow classroom routines independently.
  • Work cooperatively with peers.
  • Demonstrate self-control and problem-solving skills.
  • Stay focused and complete tasks.
  • Show responsibility for materials and belongings.
  • Communicate needs and ideas respectfully.

Goal for Transitioning to Second Grade

By the end of first grade, students should be independent learners who can read grade-level texts confidently, write complete thoughts, solve basic math problems, and work responsibly within a classroom community.