Reading
Students begin the year building a love for reading by developing reading routines and strategies that lay the foundation for decoding and comprehension skills. First graders gather for short lessons with targeted teaching points that they can apply to their books during independent reading. Teachers confer with children during this time to support individual needs. Students also meet in small groups to work on comprehension skills, such as making connections, inferring and predicting, and asking questions. First graders are encouraged to complete twenty minutes of reading as a part of their nightly routine at home. We build upon letter knowledge and concepts of print during word study and encourage students to apply these skills to their texts while reading. 

Writing
We practice a writing workshop model, including a mini lesson, independent writing, conferring, and small group work. Students learn to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish their work. Families are invited to Publishing Parties to celebrate students’ writing accomplishments throughout the year. There is a focus on developing each student’s writing stamina. Handwriting is practiced weekly using the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum.

In first grade social studies, students focus on the different elements of a community. Units of study explore the needs, wants, interactions, and complexities of a community and its members. Students delve into the various institutions and systems that make up a neighborhood and study how these systems may differ between urban, suburban, and rural environments. The students’ studies are supported through block building, as first graders develop their understanding through creating realistic features and details of a neighborhood.

In first grade, students learn about scientific inquiry, hypotheses, experimentation, and the evaluation of data. Students are given opportunities to take part in practical experiments, pose questions, and record their findings. Their science learning is focused on air, weather and the moon, life cycles, and nutrition. The class follows the egg-to-chick life cycle, tracking their development and growth.

In first grade, students are introduced to the Singapore Math program and engage in a rigorous curriculum focused on critical thinking and developing multiple strategies for problem solving. Mastery of these skills is achieved through intentional sequencing of concepts. The approach includes the CPA (Concrete-, Pictorial-, Abstract) progression, number bonds, bar modeling, and mental math. Instead of rote memorization, students learn to think mathematically, use models of representation, and draw on the depth of knowledge gained in previous lessons.

In first grade, students practice being caring learners and friends. We explore feelings, friendship, problem-solving skills, and more to help foster social and emotional growth. Our first graders learn about identity, diversity, justice, and action. A range of topics are covered, including anti-bias and multicultural and social justice issues through the Teaching Tolerance curriculum, that are tailored to our students' needs. Social Emotional Studies topics include:

• Feelings
• Friendship
• Problem-Solving
• Identity
• Teamwork
• Empathy

In the youngest grades, assessment of young children's progress and achievements is ongoing, purposeful, strategic, and reflective. Observation, documentation of learning moments, and conferencing with children individually offers them opportunities to engage in meaningful experiences where they are able to apply their knowledge and skills and share their thinking.
 

In addition to local neighborhood walks to transportation hubs like the light rail, PATH station, Citi Bike hubs, and train and bus station, we also take walking trips to nearby stores. During the third trimester, students take community field trips to venues such as Chelsea Market, Alstede Farms, and New York City Theaters.