1st Grade
In first grade, the students begin to put all the pieces of preschool and Kindergarten together to become READERS! The classroom focus is on reading skills and reading comprehension. A door to many new, exciting worlds open when first graders begin to read. An additional milestone for first grade is writing. First grade begins to express their own thoughts and ideas in sentence form from their own hand.
Religion
Students read stories from the Bible that relate them to their everyday lives and are worded in a way that is easy to understand. Christ like behaviors are expected and taught throughout the day, in all things we do. Chapel services at the church are held bi-weekly.
Memory Work
Students are assigned verses from the bible as well as the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and Luther’s Morning and Evening Prayers. Memory is recited twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday.
Reading
Our classroom has the Daily 5 structure during language arts time. While the teacher works with a small group the rest of the students are working independently on several tasks. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a weekly reading program which exposes students to several genres, and builds decoding and comprehension skills. We also use the Accelerated Reading Program schoolwide to encourage students to read books at their own reading level. Students will take comprehension quizzes and gradually increase their reading level as the year progresses. Their reading homework consists of reaching their tailored goal each quarter. We also use getepic, a website dedicated to reading books aloud and letting students explore different genres of books. Students may access this website at home and during our Daily 5 language arts time.
Writing
We focus on teaching the fundamentals of writing: complete sentences, spaces between words, capitalization and punctuation. Students also explore writing paragraphs, editing their writing, and staying on topic. Some topics may include: Native American informational writing, pumpkin opinion writing, and holiday narrative writing.
Grammar
Students learn basic grammar skills like recognizing complete sentences, statements, or questions. They dig deeper into nouns, plural nouns, adjectives, and verbs.
Spelling
Students begin the school year with 6 words and increase by two every quarter. Students may practice their spelling words during our Daily 5 language arts time. They are also encouraged to practice at home. Spelling pretests are every Wednesday and tests are every Friday. If a student scores 100% on the pretest they do not need to take in on Friday.
Handwriting
Learn and master the formation of letters and work on neat handwriting.
Math
Students learn addition strategies, subtraction strategies, geometry, money, and time. We also use IXL (math website) as a supplemental program at home and at school.
Science
The four main units in first grade include: Earth Science, Physical Science, Life Science, and Space and Technology. Students have a multitude of resources to help them learn about science: reading books, field trips, virtual field trips, experiments, creating science notebooks, and working together in group projects.
Social Studies
In social studies, students focus on culture, geography, history, economics, and citizenship. Within those units students learn about their family and neighborhoods, all about the Earth, life long ago, all about working, and an introduction into our government. Students experience social studies through virtual field trips, notebooks, reading books, field trips, and videos.
Technology
Our students have access to computers, iPads, Chrome Books, and Smartboards on a daily basis. They have technology class two times per week.
- Recess
- Physical Fitness
- Music
- Spanish
- Library
- Art
- Chapel
Choir and Pee-wee Basketball is available to those who want to join. We take field trips to Leaman’s Green Apple Barn, Johnson’s Pumpkin Patch, Baby Acres, and Bay City State Park.
- 12 – #12 Pencils – Sharpened
- 1 – Large (basic) Pink Eraser
- 4 – Glue Sticks
- 1 – 8 oz Bottle of Elmer’s Glue
- 1 – Box (24 ct.) Crayons
- 1 – Ream of Copier Paper
- 1 – Pocket Folder
- 2 – Spiral Notebook Paper
- 1 – Pair of Student Scissors (Pointed)
- 1 – Box Washable markers / 10 count Classic Colors
- 1 – Box Colored Pencils / 12 count
- 1 – 35 ct. Disinfecting Wipes
- 1 – Plastic Shoebox w/ Lid
- 1 – School Bag / Backpack to fit in locker. Note: Wheeled book bags do not fit in lockers.
- Headphones or earbuds to be left at school
- Gym shoes to be left at school
- Sweater or Sweatshirt to leave at school
- Child’s Original Birth Certificate (we will make a copy for our records)
- Kindergarten Vision & Hearing Screening
The Public Health Code and State Law in Michigan requires children to have their vision and hearing tested for the first time before entering into Kindergarten. Bay County Health Department will be testing children for any vision and hearing defects. This screening will be provided free of charge. Call the school office for the current screening date and time.
Sadie Priem
1st Grade Teacher
I feel it is important to form relationships with your students. Find out their interests, what they like to read about, their favorite games, who is in their family, and more. Once they see you care about them, they will care more, they will be engaged in the lesson, they will have more fun knowing that you care and that this classroom is a safe place to learn.
I use a variety of teaching methods depending on the lesson. Her classes have been to the Capital Building and The Michigan Museum. Visits to the Bay City Historical Museum, have enjoyed the River of Time, Thumb Octagon Barn Agricultural Museum, Bay Veterinarian Clinic and to the Good Samaritan House.
I want to get my students interested in reading and hopefully change their interests into the love of reading. I feel I can do this by showing them, my love to read. I also use the Daily 5 structure to encourage and build independent readers. It is important to get to know your students, their interests and setting them up for success.
One thing that I do is when I teach I move. We are moving from the carpet to desks, to standing and more. My students do work in several different ways; with partners, independently, and in groups where they can learn to interact and learn how to learn in different situations. I also love to pray with my students.
One of my favorite lessons I love to teach are reading games. I also have a secret love of teaching science and using interactive notebooks and hands on lab activities. I love teaching these lessons/games because I can be more creative and my students see me excited.
I believe learning can be fun. I think it is important for the teacher to adapt to the needs of his/her students. Finding out what works and doesn’t work for the group of students is important, because with each new school year brings a different set of students.
Jesus is the best role model for a teacher. Jesus formed relationships and he loved. Forming relationships with your students and love them is important.
