First Grade at St. John Regional Catholic School

Welcome to first grade!
I have some basic "requirements" for all first graders upon entering my classroom. They need to be ready to create, wonder, imagine, and discover. :) With all of those qualities, they will be ready for whatever we study in first grade! I have no doubts that all six and seven- year olds possess those qualities.

Our Day
Our day starts off with morning circle. Here we have a "person of the day" that does calendar duties. Usually we have a read- aloud or shared reading experience after calendar. Next comes daily religion lessons. I try to apply the lesson to real-life experiences with the children because I feel that is how they best relate to the content. Next, we have a solid hour designated for language arts. Students work independently and in groups, as well as with partners on a variety of tasks. We also have a daily phonics lesson. Math is after lunch and I try to have a hands-on activity correlated with each lesson to extend the learning, and also offer a variety of learning styles. We end our day with an alternating science or social studies unit.

Love of Reading!
A love of reading is instilled during your child's first grade year. First grade is crucial in the development of reading skills. I am constantly projecting my love of reading and am showing my students how I am a life-long lover of reading. By fostering a love of reading, as well as a love of school, I believe I am preparing my students for a lifetime of success in learning.

Amanda Pollard, First Grade Teacher