Alden first graders are busy learning all the time! Our learning is focused around the concepts of relationships and cause and effect. We learn about numerous different types of relationships throughout the year in all subject areas. We discuss cause and effect in relation to our everyday lives, and also during reading, science, and social studies. We work hard to make connections between what we are learning in reading, math, science, social studies, and writing.

Illustrative Math:

In math, first graders use many different manipulatives and strategies to solve problems. It is important that we understand how math concepts work and numbers relate to one another.

CKLA Literacy:

First graders are exposed to many different types of stories in our language arts curriculum. Our reading curriculum, CKLA, breaks up our reading day into two chunks - knowledge and skills. Skills helps us to learn how to decode words to read fluently to eventually read to learn. The knowledge portion exposes us to rich content to build our background knowledge and sets the foundation for learning in the future.

CKLA Knowledge Units:

Fables and Stories

The Human Body

Different Lands, Similar Stories

Early World Civilizations

Early American Civilizations

Astronomy

The History of the Earth

Animals and Habitats

Fairy Tales

A New Nation: American Independence

Frontier Explorers

Science and social studies are alternated throughout the school year. First graders love learning from Mystery Doug each week as he answers a question that we have voted on. In science, we learn about sound and light, plants and animals, and air and weather. First graders enjoy this hands on learning about the world around them. We learn about past, present, and future in social studies, as well as learning about goods, services, needs, and wants in an economics unit.

Mystery Doug Units:

Animal Traits and Survival

Plant Traits and Survival

Day Patterns

Night Patterns

Light, Sound and Communication

First grade is special because we have implemented flexible seating in our classroom. Each day, students choose a spot that they can do their best in. There are a variety of choices, including exercise balls, wobble stools, cushions, kick bands, standing desks, and sitting desks (where students sit on the floor). Students can choose to sit with a group or by themselves depending on what they think will work best for them that day.

Alden first graders have many opportunities to grow their CADET skills. Within the classroom we have leadership roles that students rotate through.

We are thankful for families who are involved in their child’s learning here in Alden. We value teamwork between home and school to provide each child with the best possible learning. We regularly communicate through notes, emails, phone calls, class Facebook pages, and conferences. Report cards are sent home three times per year. We are proud of all the great things first graders do and love seeing them grow throughout the year and as they continue in our building!