First Grade - Mrs. Neuss

The main focus of our first grade classroom is learning to read and reinforcing reading skills. The students become skilled "word detectives", using a variety of clues to help them discover the "identity" of unfamiliar words. Specific reading skills are taught and reinforced in small "guided reading" groups using quality children's literature. As individual assessment is ongoing, groups change frequently.

Phonics is an important part of the program as is comprehension. Part of our phonics instruction includes "Making Words" whereby children are taught to look for familiar "word chunks" such as "igh" or "ock". Silent reading is an important part of each day.

As writing is an essential component of learning to read, students write three or more times each week. They begin by writing just one or two words but quickly move on to writing sentences and paragraphs. Students write in their journals about experiences we share, stories we read and their friends and families. They also write in response to lessons in all subject areas and in response to quality children's literature. At the end of the year students write and illustrate their "memoirs".

Almost every blank space in our classroom has words on it. Pieces of print that are meaningful to the children are everywhere (e.g. vocabulary words, class rules, bible verses, stories, poems, graphs, etc.) There are even high frequency words on the floor. We are intentionally creating a "print rich" classroom, so that the children will "live" with words and have the opportunity to grow their sight vocabularies.

Our approach to Math is "hands-on". We use all kinds of manipulatives including buttons, beads, "Unifix cubes" and even plastic ants and animals. Daily lessons are a bit more like magic shows than lessons with "Math Masters" and "Math Assistants" demonstrating concepts. In addition to following N.Y. State standards, enrichment activities include an introduction to multiplication.

Our Science lessons include lots of experiments and observations. For instance, the students conduct a year-long study of decomposition and the water cycle in a micro-environment which they create. The students have learned to be astute observers and investigators, constantly questioning and theorizing. Field trips include such destinations as the Bronx Zoo, the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT and, of course, a pumpkin patch.

In Religion we get to know God through Bible stories and lessons. We learn about Jesus' life and how He can be part of our lives. We also learn about the church and attend mass monthly. We try to emulate Jesus through such mission projects as "adopting" a disadvantaged family, filling shoeboxes with Christmas presents for children in developing countries, and sponsoring a child in Indonesia through "Compassion International".