Welcome to first grade at Rolling Hills! We believe this is the year for children to develop as learners, beginning to work more independently while maintaining the joy of discovering something new about themselves and their world each day.
In first grade, we emphasize the values of respect, responsibility, and safety, and work to provide an environment in which each child can grow and develop along his own unique path.
We believe reading is a critical skill to be mastered by first graders. Students will be reading in a variety of structures: shared reading, small group instruction, read-aloud and independent reading. Phonological awareness, decoding and phonics are taught using a systematic approach. Comprehension skills are developed through investigating story structures, text organization, retelling, problem and solution, and cause and effect. Reading materials include fiction, non-fiction and poetry.
First graders write for a variety of purposes and audiences, such as writing in response to reading, personal narratives, opinion pieces and informational writing. Students will engage in shared, guided and independent writing. Grammar, mechanics, and spelling are taught directly and incorporated into authentic writing projects.
Bridges In Mathematics provides mathematic instruction in a manner that is rigorous, coherent, engaging, and accessible to all learners. It focuses on developing students' deep understandings of mathematical concepts, proficiency with key skills, and ability to solve complex and novel problems. Our math classrooms feature a combination of whole group, small group, and independent activities that are problem centered. Students engage in three major kinds of activities: Problems & Investigations, Work Places, and Assessments.
Throughout the year, we integrate units focused on our families, maps and globes, patriotic symbol/notable Americans and personal financial literacy. We try to incorporate project-based learning into these units as much as possible.
Utilizing the FOSS program, we introduce students to matter with the unit Solids and Liquids. We teach them about the earth with Pebbles, Sand, and Silt, and the life sciences are explored through the unit Plants and Insects. The hands-on approach is designed around the scientific method.