First Grade

A greeting video first graders made to our friends at the Arab Evangelical Episcopal School in Ramallah.

St. Mark’s students grow exponentially in the first grade. By the end of the school year, they will become independent readers and writers.

Language Arts Using the Houghton Mifflin Reading program, students increase their skills by decoding, questioning, monitor/clarify, and summarizing in poetry, plays, and folktales. Phonemic awareness and blending are strengthened as the students look for small words in big words and by sounding out words in small sections. To enhance the reading program, first graders take the STAR test on computers several times a year to determine their reading level. They participate in the Accelerated Reader program online to earn points for reading books. Handwriting instruction and reinforcement continues with the Handwriting Without Tears program.

Mathematics Singapore Math continues in first grade with the focus on building comfort and a life-long understanding of numbers using number bonds and other tools. Daily word problems are incorporated into the class routine, and first grade students progress to addition and subtraction with numbers from 20 to higher numbers, and on to basic multiplication and division concepts.

Social studies focus on citizenship, map skills, and geography using a variety of interactive formats.

Science lessons are taught by a special science teacher. Topics will cover weather, simple machines, animals and habitats, life cycles, and food chains.

In addition to the TPR Spanish method, students begin formal study of spelling and vocabulary of the Spanish language.

First graders attend all the resources; art, computer, Christian education, music, physical education, and library throughout the week.