Curricular Calendars
Please follow the links below for our Readers Workshop, Writers Workshop, and Math Curricular Calendars.
Readers Workshop Curricular Calendar
Writers Workshop Curricular Calendar
Singapore Math Curricular Calendar
Readers Workshop Curricular Calendar
Writers Workshop Curricular Calendar
Singapore Math Curricular Calendar
First Grade Curriculum FAQ
What is Singapore Math? Singapore Math is an approach used to enhance students critical thinking skills and to help them build life long problem solving skills. This program allows students to dig deep in imperative math areas to make sure all types of learners are ready for higher level mathematical thinking.
What is the workshop model? In Literacy, first grade uses the workshop model. The workshop model begins with a teacher led mini-lesson (ranging from 7 to 15 minutes) followed by independent learning. While students are independently working on reading and writing, the teacher is conferring with students or working in small groups to ensure all learners are working to their full potential. The workshop ends with a closing, where students can share their breakthroughs and highlights.
What can I do with my student at home? The biggest thing you can do at home is read and write! I always recommend students to keep a journal where they can record their daily activities (i.e. play date, getting ice cream, going to park, going swimming, visiting relatives, travelling, etc.). Students can begin by drawing a picture. Then, they can work on labeling all of the parts of their drawing. Once they are comfortable with labeling, students can begin writing sentences. Please do not focus on the correct spelling of words. Students will work on that in school but at home they should focus on getting practice writing and having fun with it.
How can I help my child with math? Patience! There are a few practical things that make all the difference. You can hang a calendar in your child's bedroom. A calendar helps children gain number sense, especially if there is a countdown to a special holiday or birthday or activity. Games are fabulous for helping children with math skills. You can play games from Candyland to Sorry. Once children get the hang of using one dice and moving forward and backward the game pieces, then move to a game with 2 di so your child can work on addition skills. Our Singapore Math program is new and will look different to the untrained eye. Lauren Quinn, the Math Specialist, as well as myself will help acquaint you with tools and techniques to help your child succeed in math.
What is Word Study? The focus of Word Study is for students to transfer words over to Reader's Workshop and Writer's Workshop. Word Study begins with an Elementary Spelling Inventory, a list of 26 words with specific purposes. The way students spell the words show me what skills they are using but confusing, which is exactly where they should be taught. Typically in first grade, students are working on short vowel sounds, long vowel sounds, digraphs, blends, and inflected endings. Word Study is used at Congressional for 1st - 3rd grades.
Where are all the worksheets? Research shows that the traditional worksheets or dittos are not the more beneficial way for students to learn. At Congressional, we use best practices to teach children. For Writers Workshop, students get to choose what type of writing paper they wish to use (for the most part). We keep the writing in the classroom for students to continually revise, edit, and publish. Some of the writing gets displays in the classroom and some of the writing will be sent home at the end of the unit. In Readers Workshop, students read! For math, there is a math workbook and a math journal where students will work in. If you ever wish to come in and look at your child's work, please let me know and we can make a meeting.
First Grade Overview
Readers Workshop
Readers Workshop Curricular Calendar
September – Readers Build Good Habits
October/November – Tackling Trouble: When Readers Come to Hard Words and Tricky Parts of Book, We Try Harder and Harder
November/December – Nonfiction Readers Learn About the World
January/February – Readers Meet the Characters in Our Books
February/March – We Can Be Our Own Teachers When We Work to Figure Out Words and Parts of Texts in Fiction and Nonfiction Texts
April/May – Reading Across Genres to Learn About a Topic: Informational Books, Stories, and Poems
May/June – Dramatizing Characters and Deepening Our Comprehension in Reading Clubs
Writers Workshop
Writers Workshop Curricular Calendar
September/October – Launching with Small Moments
October/November – Authors as Mentors: Craftsmanship & Revision
November/December – Informational Books
January/February – Persuasive Writing: Opinions, Reviews and Stories
February/March – Poetry: Powerful Thoughts in Tiny Packages
April/May – Informational Writing About Science
May/June – Realistic Fiction
Math WorkshopSingapore Math Curricular Calendar
Unit 1: Numbers 1 – 10
Unit 2: Number Bonds
Unit 3: Addition
Unit 4: Subtraction
Unit 5: Ordinal Numbers
Unit 6: Numbers to 20
Unit 7: Shapes
Unit 8: Length
Unit 9: Weight
Unit 10: Comparing Numbers
Unit 11: Graphs
Unit 12: Numbers to 40
Unit 13: Multiplication
Unit 14: Division
Unit 15: 1/2’s and 1/4’s
Unit 16: Time
Unit 17: Numbers to 100
Unit 18: Money
10 Principles of Word Study:
Look for what children use but confuse.
A step backward is a step forward.
Use words children can read.
Compare words that "do" with words that don't.
Sort by sounds and sight.
Use obvious contrasts.
Don't hide exceptions.
Avoid rules.
Work for automaticity.
Return to meaningful texts.
What is Singapore Math? Singapore Math is an approach used to enhance students critical thinking skills and to help them build life long problem solving skills. This program allows students to dig deep in imperative math areas to make sure all types of learners are ready for higher level mathematical thinking.
What is the workshop model? In Literacy, first grade uses the workshop model. The workshop model begins with a teacher led mini-lesson (ranging from 7 to 15 minutes) followed by independent learning. While students are independently working on reading and writing, the teacher is conferring with students or working in small groups to ensure all learners are working to their full potential. The workshop ends with a closing, where students can share their breakthroughs and highlights.
What can I do with my student at home? The biggest thing you can do at home is read and write! I always recommend students to keep a journal where they can record their daily activities (i.e. play date, getting ice cream, going to park, going swimming, visiting relatives, travelling, etc.). Students can begin by drawing a picture. Then, they can work on labeling all of the parts of their drawing. Once they are comfortable with labeling, students can begin writing sentences. Please do not focus on the correct spelling of words. Students will work on that in school but at home they should focus on getting practice writing and having fun with it.
How can I help my child with math? Patience! There are a few practical things that make all the difference. You can hang a calendar in your child's bedroom. A calendar helps children gain number sense, especially if there is a countdown to a special holiday or birthday or activity. Games are fabulous for helping children with math skills. You can play games from Candyland to Sorry. Once children get the hang of using one dice and moving forward and backward the game pieces, then move to a game with 2 di so your child can work on addition skills. Our Singapore Math program is new and will look different to the untrained eye. Lauren Quinn, the Math Specialist, as well as myself will help acquaint you with tools and techniques to help your child succeed in math.
What is Word Study? The focus of Word Study is for students to transfer words over to Reader's Workshop and Writer's Workshop. Word Study begins with an Elementary Spelling Inventory, a list of 26 words with specific purposes. The way students spell the words show me what skills they are using but confusing, which is exactly where they should be taught. Typically in first grade, students are working on short vowel sounds, long vowel sounds, digraphs, blends, and inflected endings. Word Study is used at Congressional for 1st - 3rd grades.
Where are all the worksheets? Research shows that the traditional worksheets or dittos are not the more beneficial way for students to learn. At Congressional, we use best practices to teach children. For Writers Workshop, students get to choose what type of writing paper they wish to use (for the most part). We keep the writing in the classroom for students to continually revise, edit, and publish. Some of the writing gets displays in the classroom and some of the writing will be sent home at the end of the unit. In Readers Workshop, students read! For math, there is a math workbook and a math journal where students will work in. If you ever wish to come in and look at your child's work, please let me know and we can make a meeting.
First Grade Overview
Readers Workshop
Readers Workshop Curricular Calendar
September – Readers Build Good Habits
October/November – Tackling Trouble: When Readers Come to Hard Words and Tricky Parts of Book, We Try Harder and Harder
November/December – Nonfiction Readers Learn About the World
January/February – Readers Meet the Characters in Our Books
February/March – We Can Be Our Own Teachers When We Work to Figure Out Words and Parts of Texts in Fiction and Nonfiction Texts
April/May – Reading Across Genres to Learn About a Topic: Informational Books, Stories, and Poems
May/June – Dramatizing Characters and Deepening Our Comprehension in Reading Clubs
Writers Workshop
Writers Workshop Curricular Calendar
September/October – Launching with Small Moments
October/November – Authors as Mentors: Craftsmanship & Revision
November/December – Informational Books
January/February – Persuasive Writing: Opinions, Reviews and Stories
February/March – Poetry: Powerful Thoughts in Tiny Packages
April/May – Informational Writing About Science
May/June – Realistic Fiction
Math WorkshopSingapore Math Curricular Calendar
Unit 1: Numbers 1 – 10
Unit 2: Number Bonds
Unit 3: Addition
Unit 4: Subtraction
Unit 5: Ordinal Numbers
Unit 6: Numbers to 20
Unit 7: Shapes
Unit 8: Length
Unit 9: Weight
Unit 10: Comparing Numbers
Unit 11: Graphs
Unit 12: Numbers to 40
Unit 13: Multiplication
Unit 14: Division
Unit 15: 1/2’s and 1/4’s
Unit 16: Time
Unit 17: Numbers to 100
Unit 18: Money
10 Principles of Word Study:
Look for what children use but confuse.
A step backward is a step forward.
Use words children can read.
Compare words that "do" with words that don't.
Sort by sounds and sight.
Use obvious contrasts.
Don't hide exceptions.
Avoid rules.
Work for automaticity.
Return to meaningful texts.