First Grade

Academics

St. Clare School’s philosophy and mission statement are incorporated into the first grade classroom. First grade offers a safe and nurturing environment where students build confidence, develop a love of learning, and flourish academically. First grade focuses on building a strong foundation of literacy skills and in promoting Gospel values through Catholic education.

First grade language arts includes foundational skills, comprehension skills and strategies, spelling, phonics, fluency, writing, grammar, and vocabulary strategies.

First grade students practice reading and comprehending complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently. Students also practice different forms of reading, including reading to themselves, reading to others, and listening to others reading. First grade participates in leveled reading groups three times a week.

First grade focuses on four critical areas in math:

  • Developing an understanding of addition, subtraction, and strategies for addition and subtraction with 20.
  • Developing an understanding of whole number relationships and place value, including grouping in tens and ones.
  • Developing an understanding of linear measurement and measuring lengths as iterating length units.
  • Reasoning about attributes of, and composing and decomposing geometric shapes.

First grade science focuses on the following units:

  • Waves: Light and Sound
  • Structure, Function, and Information Processing
  • Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles
  • Engineering Design

First grade social studies covers communities, American symbols, national celebrations, holidays, calendars, timelines, maps, leadership, rules, and income.

First grade students review and practice the correct formation of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, and numbers.

Faith Formation

In first grade, students learn how to lead weekly school mass, doing so several times during the school year.

We also cover these three essential concepts:

  • Creation
  • Jesus
  • The Church

Community Service

St. Clare students promote social justice and seek opportunities to serve others. Each month, first graders collect food for those in need, count the food, and carry it over to the parish food bank.

First Grade Highlights

First grade students have sixth grade buddies. They attend weekly mass and do a variety of activities together throughout the school year.

Typically, there are four field trips planned for First Grade students: apple picking, the Children’s Theater, a visit to a local farm, and a trip to an orthodontist’s office.