In first grade, students begin to develop the underlying skills and knowledge they need in order to move into deeper thinking and questioning. Students are given opportunities to learn and problem solve collectively, as well as individually. Our goal is that children will start to feel responsible for their own learning and behavior.
We believe that all students learn most successfully in a safe, nurturing environment, one in which students care about each other and each other’s learning — an environment where students are not afraid to take risks and make mistakes.
Students participate in a reading workshop as a part of the balanced literacy framework that is used throughout the school day. Whole group lessons occur regularly, during which students are taught the skills and strategies they need to navigate a variety of genres of books. Students are also split into small groups to work closely with their teachers, giving them the support they need to work towards individualized goals. Students also read independently and are taught how to select books that are appropriate for their skill levels. Teachers assess students periodically throughout the year to determine their progress.
First grade is an important and exciting year for writing. Students move beyond the mechanics of writing and start to put their own opinions and ideas on paper. They begin to think about the content and quality of their writing by applying their emerging editing skills. During the different units of study, students learn to write for different purposes and across various genres such as poetry, persuasive, expository, and creative writing. Students are also exposed to and start using similes, metaphors, dialogue, and senses in their writing.
Mathematics in the first grade at TRAIL is a year of foundational skills. We begin the year focusing on and conducting a comprehensive review of the basic number facts that students have learned in kindergarten. The topics include counting, place value, and comparing numbers. After a solid review, we move into addition and subtraction. Then students explore geometry and fractions. Later in the year, we explore money, measurement, and time. Finally, students learn to organize, compare, and interpret data by using various types of graphs. Throughout the year, we teach our students a variety of strategies for solving number stories. Students use math manipulatives, math games, and different math apps in order to fully understand and explain their thinking.
Through the first grade science program, students are guided to ask deeper questions that will lead to richer discussion around the unit topics. First graders learn skills that integrates life, earth, and physical science. Through questioning, hands-on experiments, reading, writing, and other research, students come to construct meaning and understand large themes within each unit. Students analyze their knowledge by thinking about how things function, why they are the way they are, and how and why they may change. The modules are designed to inspire curiosity, investigation, and innovation. Students are also taught to become more proficient at finding answers for themselves by exploring multiple forms of media. There is a strong emphasis on cooperative learning as students use one another as resources and work as a team to make discoveries.
In social studies, students will gain building blocks for critical thinking, develop a strong reading and writing foundation, and learn what it means to be responsible, active citizens. They also develop social, communication, reasoning, self-management, and research skills by embarking on larger group projects. They gain knowledge that is relevant and of global significance to develop an appreciation that we hope will lead to international-mindedness. Students strengthen their ability to see things from different perspectives, and reflect upon their own responsibility in the personal choices that they make. With engaging content students takes a fresh approach to social studies in the classroom. Topics supports students in developing themselves and how they interact with the world.
In first grade, the goal is for students to feel comfortable speaking and hearing Spanish. Students learn the alphabet and gain the ability to sound out both familiar and unfamiliar words. An emphasis is placed on correct pronunciation so that a native speaker would be able to understand them. Students learn how to have a conversation about themselves including their name, age, origin, birthday, and parts of the body. Emphasis is on a basic vocabulary of numbers, days of the week, months, weather, colors, animals, and family. Students will also experience some Panamanian traditions throughout the year to learn more about our Host Nation.
First graders sing songs in a variety of languages and styles. Students begin to learn and apply the principles of music notation both traditional and nontraditional, sight-reading, and musical ear training. In the instrumental portion of first grade music curriculum, emphasis is made on strengthening and learning of various world and classical rhythms through the use of pitched and unpitched percussion instruments. Students work on their compositions individually and in groups by using basic technology tools and compositional techniques. Special emphasis is made on collaborative and creative projects. Students strengthen their communication and creative thinking skills while exploring percussion instruments, such as African drums, xylophones, metallophones, and steel drums. The primary goal for the first grade is to allow students to experience the joys of group and spontaneous music making while building their social and collaborative skills.
Throughout the year students have the opportunity to present their musical talents in Community Meetings, Holiday and special assemblies, Community Outreach Projects, and Winter and Spring Concerts.
In the first grade, physical education focuses on teaching students important movement fundamentals related to health, fitness, and well-being. Students explore and develop the ability to solve problems individually or in pairs, and begin to identify different roles and responsibilities in small group activities. Students are taught sports-specific skills and techniques in a variety of games-related activities. Through these games and activities students are familiarized with the concepts of teamwork and cooperation. First grade students are exposed to different stimuli and respond through movement to express feelings and moods using imagination and original ideas. They explore and develop traditional gymnastic skills and interpret and answer movement tasks by putting simple movement sequences together. Students are aware of the importance of daily exercise and explore, use, and adapt a range of movement skills. They focus on the connection of “body and exercise” when looking at physical changes in relation to exercising during their interdisciplinary studies.
First grade students are introduced to the design cycle and technology. A variety of digital tools will be integrated into the classrooms to enhance their units of inquiry. In the beginning of the year, first graders learn how to use technology responsibly and begin to learn basic technology skills. Students also reflect on their own learning process through a digital portfolio.
Students in the first grade will begin to that understand that technology is the process of communicating and sharing information. Students are introduced to coding through floor robots called bee-bots. These programmable robots help students to learn control, sequencing, and directional language. Students use the design inquiry cycle to help solve problems by creating new and imaginative solutions.
