First graders have their own desks! They love to do book reports! Each report is presented orally and has a special component such as dressing up as a character or creating a mosaic or a scene from the book. Our class mascot (stuffed animal) spends each day with a different child and even visits the children in their homes on the weekend! Our “Flat Friends” are sent to places across the country or around the world and help us to learn about the great world that God has created!
A large emphasis is placed on phonics in first grade. The children learn many phonetic rules which they use to decode new words in their daily reading. By the end of first grade the children are reading simple chapter books. We set the foundation for future math concepts and skills as we learn mental math strategies and memorize the addition and subtraction facts through sums of 18. We work hard on creative writing, beginning with a rough draft which is edited and rewritten. Our projects start out simple, but grow as the year progresses. The children become more independent and responsible in first grade and they begin to learn to handle their own problems in the classroom and on the playground. First grade is a big year or growth for many of the children!
Kisker Road Library, St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri Botanical Garden, and Shaw Nature Reserve
First graders are eager to learn and do learn so much during the school year. It’s exciting to see their progress and to watch them gain confidence in themselves! First graders are also very loving and forgiving. It’s wonderful to see them “shining their lights” for Jesus!
