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Learning in first grade becomes more organized and routine-based, but still with a lot of room for children’s creative exploration. First grade marks many, important milestones for young children as they develop into readers, writers and math students. In first grade, students also begin to develop a sense of independence. First graders now have to use the social skills they have developed in preschool and kindergarten in more mature ways. Therefore, knowing how to follow rules and take care of themselves becomes important. Becoming self-sufficient enough to navigate through school’s daily academic and social routines is an important part of first grade. The true magic of first grade happens as children develop the ability to understand what letters and numbers really mean. When they’re ready, they’ll be able to “crack the code” and read words and solve more complex mathematical problems.

Language Arts

First grade is traditionally thought of as the level where children learn to read. Not all children become fluent readers by the end of the first grade, but most master the foundation of skills for reading. Their reading material varies from simple rhymes, to classroom news, to patterned stories and beginner non-fiction books. By the end of the year, most are reading grade-level chapter books and some are reading at even more advanced levels. Writing, like reading, takes a variety of forms in first-grade. With the newfound ability to read and write individual words, children begin combining words in order to form complete sentences and gain further understanding of the written language. Writing activities include journal writing, writing creative stories, or documenting their work in other subject areas.

Math

First graders begin to grasp more abstract mathematical concepts. Children are introduced to time, money, and the meaning of numbers greater than those they can count. Because first graders still learn best by working with physical objects, children are provided with materials to use during math lessons such as number cubes, pattern blocks, and color rods. First graders begin to do simple addition and subtraction problems. They learn to count by 2s, 5s, and 10s, which will help them later when doing math equations. They also work with 2- and 3-dimensional geometric shapes. The Indian Mountain Lower School utilizes an updated Houghton Mifflin math program.

Social Studies

Kindergarten is a year of increasing reading readiness. Students are read aloud to everyday to build listening and comprehension skills. In addition, students are taught foundation language skills such as phonemic awareness, which is an essential part of learning how to read. Students are taught to recognize each letter of the alphabet in correlation with its sound, to know the difference between vowels and consonants, and begin to read short (CVC) consonant-vowel-consonant words (ie. dog). Kindergarten also focuses on the recognition of high-frequency sight words.

Along with reading comes writing. For kindergarten, this includes learning proper letter formation in both upper and lowercase print. At the beginning of the year, a student may dictate a sentence to the teacher and illustrate it. By the end of the school year, however, students will be able to complete entries in a journal of his/her own.

Mathematics focuses on sorting, patterning and comparing data. Students will also learn number representation and formation and begin to learn the basic operations of addition, subtraction, time, money, and fractions.

In science and social studies, the focus in kindergarten is on the world that surrounds us. Discussion and activities related to home, families, holidays, and traditions are central to the curriculum. In addition, kindergarten takes part in the Lower School’s year-long study theme, such as Native American Studies or Outer Space. Throughout kindergarten, the goal is to encourage each student’s interests and abilities, teach basic academic skills, and to foster respect and love for both learning and the school community.

The second grade school year begins with the review and practice of skills presented in earlier grades. Material that may have challenged the students at the end of their first grade experience will now be patiently mastered.

Second grade is a time to apply the children’s understanding of letters and numbers to the development of their independent reading and their analytical, mathematical thinking. Their developing ability to listen and speak clearly supports the growth of their organization, focus, and most importantly, their confident and effective communication skills.

Second grade scholars work to become accurate, fluent, and expressive readers. They process information more rapidly and make connections to new concepts quickly. Each second grader is taught to use an expanding and more sophisticated vocabulary to discuss people, places, actions, ideas, and events. The literal and inferential comprehension of materials is developed through direct instruction. The children’s experience with a wide variety of quality narrative and non-fiction literature, in groups and as individual readers, presents opportunities for the practice of phonics and reading strategies appropriate to their ability. Second grade readers develop an appreciation and an affinity for literature that encourages them to read often and independently from several genres.

As writers, the students work with lessons that explore writing for different purposes and specific audiences. The second graders craft expository pieces and narratives that are guided by the steps of the writing process; plan, draft, conference, revise, edit, and publish. At the second grade level, the students master the conventions of language usage and grammar through direct instruction, lessons that are integrated in their writing across the curriculum. The writing instruction cultivates the second grader’s confidence as authors of clear, concise, coherent, and creative self-expression.

Mathematics in the second grade emphasizes place value, word problems, reasonable thinking, patterns, estimation, probability, measurement, time, and money. The students practice addition and subtraction facts to become more proficient with their computational skills. The second grade students extend that understanding to develop their number sense and the ways in which mathematics works in their world. The students come to see and understand the meaning behind the symbols and algorithms. Moving from the concrete to the abstract, they make connections between complex concepts, articulating their process as they work with numbers far greater than those they can physically count.

In both science and social studies the second graders utilize research and observation to increase their knowledge of their world. Students study the people and places that come together to make the State of Connecticut unique. They build upon their earlier studies of family and community and apply that understanding towards a deeper appreciation of the rules and obligations of citizenship and the responsible use of regional resources.

Some of the materials used over the course of the second grade school year are; Houghton Mifflin Math, Wordly Wise Book A, Curriculum Associates’ Language Skills Book B, Steck-Vaughn Spelling, and from Great Source, Write Away.

The kindergarten year at IMS is a year of great academic and social development. Building upon the skills developed in pre-K, kindergarteners continue to learn the patience, problem solving, and listening skills needed to succeed in school through play, guided activities, and direct instruction.

Kindergarten is a year of increasing reading readiness. Students are read aloud to everyday to build listening and comprehension skills. In addition, students are taught foundation language skills such as phonemic awareness, which is an essential part of learning how to read. Students are taught to recognize each letter of the alphabet in correlation with its sound, to know the difference between vowels and consonants, and begin to read short (CVC) consonant-vowel-consonant words (ie. dog). Kindergarten also focuses on the recognition of high-frequency sight words.

Along with reading comes writing. For kindergarten, this includes learning proper letter formation in both upper and lowercase print. At the beginning of the year, a student may dictate a sentence to the teacher and illustrate it. By the end of the school year, however, students will be able to complete entries in a journal of his/her own.

Mathematics focuses on sorting, patterning and comparing data. Students will also learn number representation and formation and begin to learn the basic operations of addition, subtraction, time, money, and fractions.

In science and social studies, the focus in kindergarten is on the world that surrounds us. Discussion and activities related to home, families, holidays, and traditions are central to the curriculum. In addition, kindergarten takes part in the Lower School’s year-long study theme, such as Native American Studies or Outer Space. Throughout kindergarten, the goal is to encourage each student’s interests and abilities, teach basic academic skills, and to foster respect and love for both learning and the school community.

In the Indian Mountain School pre-kindergarten class, 4-year-old children join together to learn, work, and play. Problem-solving skills develop through play, as classmates learn to share and take turns. They make new friends–not only among their peers but also with older children in the school, ranging from kindergarten playmates to third-grade “Reading Buddies” and fourth grade friends too. Pre-kindergarteners grow in habits of mind required for independent learning: the readiness to try new activities and the patience to follow a project through to completion. The children develop phonemic awareness skills, learning to identify letters and sounds as they study topics related to the alphabet. (“Aa” is for apples, so we might make apple pies; “Dd” is for dogs, so we create our own stuffed, sock dogs.) All of the stories we read–fiction and non-fiction alike–are the subject of lively discussion, developing the children’s listening and comprehension skills. Block building, drawing, painting, modeling with clay, and manipulating toys provide enjoyable ways for class members to improve their fine-motor skills. In mathematics, we build number and counting skills and learn about sorting and patterns. The children measure objects and compare their sizes, graph the weather, and learn about place value in numbers as we keep track of the number of days we are at school with our “straw box.” We study topics in science and social studies and we participate in the Lower School’s year-long study theme, such as Native American or Maritime studies. Consistent throughout pre-k, the goal is to nurture each child’s desire to learn, teach them the routines and responsibilities of the beginning school world, and foster their ability to put new skills and knowledge into action.

Third grade is a year of very visible academic and individual growth. Third graders make great strides acquiring new skills and learning how to apply and incorporate their prior knowledge in new ways. Throughout the year they gain increased confidence in themselves and their abilities. They are expected to do more independent work and to make productive contributions when working in a group.

Most lessons in third grade teach to a variety of learning modalities. When possible, hands-on exercises and games are part of learning a skill. This is particularly true in math, where great emphasis is placed on children learning the multiplication facts. We also cover place value, money, time, addition and subtraction with regrouping, word-problem strategies, and number sense.

Reading groups generally begin with a skill lesson, either phonics and/or a literacy skill such as predicting outcomes or identifying main idea. We read chapter books in a variety of genres. Third graders work on comprehension questions and projects, have discussions, practice oral reading fluency and expression by reading aloud round robin style, and sometimes also present a dramatic reading at our Morning Circle.

In our language arts block we work on grammar basics, structured spelling and phonics exercises, proper formation and practice of cursive writing, editing skills, and writing. The focus of writing is to combine these skills to produce a complete piece of writing. Writing topics cover a wide variety of genres. With teacher guidance, students move through the writing process, starting with generating and organizing ideas, then editing the first draft for spelling, grammar and mechanics, on to revising their work, and lastly producing a final copy.

Our social studies units include: map skills, geography and characteristics of the eastern United States, early explorers (1000-1600’s), and U.S. history from the Pilgrims to the Revolutionary War. In addition, each year we choose a Lower School study theme around which many cross-curricular units are developed. Topics have included The Circus, Native American Studies, China, Medieval Times, Maritime Studies, and Space.

The Lower School fitness program offers students in grades pre-kindergarten through four the opportunity to experience physical education in a structured and supportive atmosphere. The classes participate in a wide variety of activities designed to encourage the development of fundamental motor skills, manipulative skills and movement experience. The students focus on basic ball handling skills, the value of being physically fit and the ability to display appropriate behaviors during class and sports situations. Classes are held both outside on our beautiful fields (when weather permits), as well as in our Lower School multi-purpose room, complete with gym floor, high ceiling and climbing wall. All Lower School classes have fitness class three times per week.