Grade 1

Each child is individually assessed using the Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) multiple times throughout the year. Using theBAS to determine student’s independent and instructional reading levels, our first grade teachers are able to observe student reading behaviors one-on-one, engage in comprehension conversations that go beyond retelling and make informed decisions that connect assessment to instruction. The results of the BAS will allow teachers to group students into “just right” groups and lead them to learn to choose “just right” books, so they can continue to grow as readers.

It is important to know our reading assessment documents include oral reading achievements as well as comprehension skills including sequencing, main idea and other specific skills.  While many children can read numerous words and have a good reading vocabulary, some do not have the comprehension skills necessary for advancing to another level. Our goals are to teach your student the following:

1. Good readers read aloud quickly and smoothly.
2. Good readers preview a book before reading and predict what might happen or identify topics included in nonfiction texts.
3. Good readers use a variety of strategies to problem solve.
4. Good readers read for meaning.
5. Good readers read and sustain their reading for longer periods of time (Stamina!).

BAS levels correspond to levels of the alphabet with level "A" being our beginning readers. The end of first grade expectation is a level I.  The following list tells you where your child should be reading at the end of each of the trimesters in order to be considered at grade level.

• End of Kindergarten: Level C
• End of First Trimester (grade 1): Level D
• End of Second Trimester (grade 1): Level F
• End of Third Trimester (End of grade 1): Level I

While your child will have multiple opportunities to grow as a reader in school, reading at home is incredibly important. First grade teachers encourage their students to read at home every night! 

Supplies needed for your child’s education are available to all students. However, children also enjoy having a few things in our classroom that belong to them (and the excitement of buying schools supplies of course). 

If your child would like to bring a small pencil box, they will have a cubby in our classroom to store it. Please limit the items in the pencil box to the list below because pencil boxes that are too full are difficult for first graders to use. 

Suggested Supplies

Backpacks and all other supplies should be marked with your child’s name. When choosing a backpack, please remember it should be large enough to carry a folder and snow, but they must also fit inside the student's locker, so please no backpacks with wheels.

• Backpack without wheels 
• Pencil box
• Scissors
• 2 boxes of 24 pack crayons – no larger then 24 crayons
• 6 glue sticks 
• A reusable pop-top or no spill water bottle
• 2 70-page spiral bound notebooks 
• 1 composition notebook 
• 12 pack of pencils 

Donations

The following supplies are ones we use a lot of in our classroom. Donations are not expected, but greatly appreciated.

• Tissues 
• Antibacterial hand sanitizer
• Sanitizing wipes for tables 
• Gallon size ziplock baggies 

Students in grade 1 are developing their beginning writing skills in writing workshops inspired by Lucy Calkins and Katy Wood Ray.  Grade 1 students will learn where ideas come from, how to read like writers, how to use authors as mentors, write non-fiction, write personal narratives and write poetry. The principals behind the writing workshop are designed to:

• Develop a love of writing
• Use authors as mentors to learn the craft of writing
• Take a developmentally appropriate approach to teach young writers
• Give children an opportunity to approximate the writing/spelling found in our language