1st Grade - Kitah Alef - כיתה א
Nancy Crom, General Studies
Chana Israel, Judaic Studies

GENERAL STUDIES

Language Arts
The first grade language arts program offers each student the opportunity to grow at his or her own level and pace. The curriculum is based in the Houghton Mifflin series, A Legacy of Literacy. This research-based approach employs multiple strategies to facilitate reading, writing, spelling, and an appreciation of literature. All reading activities emphasize meaning and teach strategies to decode unknown words. Students are exposed to non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and narratives. They have daily opportunities to read independently. They also participate in guided reading, choral reading, singing the words, and group sharing. Students engage in an independent study of spelling words through a variety of creative practice options as evidenced in the many free choice writing and reading opportunities. Students derive pleasure from being able to approach reading and writing in their own unique styles.

Math
Mathematics in the first grade is based in the Everyday Math program developed by the University of Chicago Mathematics Project. This approach teaches children that math exists in a real way in everyday life. Counting games, math board games, and class preference graphs are some of the ways that the children develop number sense. Students have daily experiences with manipulative materials affording them the opportunity to explore number concepts such as addition and subtraction, patterns, coins and currency, telling time, graphing, and problem solving. Numeration and order, reading and writing numbers, exploring data, use of calendars, ordinal numbers, and number lines are some of the other concepts that are explored by using materials first hand.

Social Studies
In social studies, the students begin the year by learning about themselves and expressing their feelings daily on a “feelings” board. A favorite part of their day is the opportunity to express why they feel as they do. As we learn about each other, the class grows into a community. The first grade also studies people around the world by learning about their customs and celebrations. Students learn what it means to be a good citizen and how good citizenship is developed.

Science
First grade students explore the natural world through concrete activities. The students learn to become more acutely aware of the world around them. Our primary area of study is organisms, and includes any living structure capable of growth and reproduction. This broad theme enables us to learn about many living things! Our primary focus is on plants and animals.

JUDAIC STUDIES

The new TalAm curriculum is used in first grade. The goal of TalAm is to develop children who are literate, skilled and able to live Jewishly.

Hebrew Language and Prayer - עברית
The focus in first grade is on mastering a basic set of vocabulary words, learning the Hebrew aleph-bet, and learning how to read Hebrew. In addition, students increase their oral comprehension skills and begin to express themselves in simple Hebrew sentences. Using the Tal-Am language arts materials, students learn how to read and write Hebrew. Singing numerous songs that are connected to each unit reinforces the new vocabulary and concepts. Short stories that are provided by the Tal-Am program are read and dramatized.

Students in first grade increase their knowledge of the tfilot. They are able to pray using a class siddur as they read the tfilot in Hebrew. At the end of the year, parents join together with their children in their morning prayers and then present their children with a beautifully covered and inscribed siddur.

Shabbat and Holidays - חגים
The Tal-Am program includes a unit of study for each holiday and Shabbat. These units include vocabulary words, blessings, customs, and songs. A multi-sensory approach to learning about the holidays allows each child to joyfully anticipate and experience the holidays.

Torah - תורה
Students learn the essence of the weekly Torah portion, which is told to them in simple Hebrew and presented as biblio-drama. Building upon their knowledge of Torah gained in kindergarten, students begin to become familiar with phrases and simple sentences from the Torah. Art, music, and drama enrich the lessons.

Israel - ישראל
Israel plays an important role in the education of our first graders. They talk about Israel in connection with all the holidays but especially in anticipation of Israel Independence Day. A unit of the Tal-Am series is devoted to becoming familiar with the symbols of the State of Israel and to learning numerous songs about Israel.

ADDITIONAL CURRICULAR EXPERIENCES

Library and Computer
First grade students learn to be comfortable in their library, while beginning to learn how to use the library and computer resources. We reinforce the rules, procedures, and organization of the library; learn about the parts of a book; listen to stories and discuss them in a group; and expose the children to a variety of wonderful books, including folktales, fairy tales, Judaic stories, early readers, and favorite authors

During computer class, the first grade learns about the parts of the computer and how to use them, mouse control, names and uses of relevant computer keys, working with computer menus and how to navigate within selected sites, tools of drawing programs, how to print from the computer, and accessing computer sites that relate to classroom activities.

Physical Education
Bet Shraga is fortunate to have a large, well equipped gymnasium, as well as an extensive outdoor play yard with three playing fields and climbing equipment for the primary aged children. During their twice weekly classes of PE, first grade children have opportunities to engage in developmentally appropriate exercises, team sports, gymnastics, and physically challenging games that develop a sense of teamwork.

Art
Art classes emphasize good drawing technique, learning about the elements of art and using the principles of art, practicing shading and using values to emphasize realism, and gaining a sense of art history and aesthetics. The year begins with Judaic projects related to Rosh Hashana and Sukkot. We then focus on printing techniques such as leaf prints, bubble prints, pressure transfer prints, object printing and foam printing. Time is also spent on drawing trees, winter landscapes, and pictures influenced by Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Weavings, rubbings, masks, and learning about Picasso rounds out first grade art.

Music and Dance
The music curriculum focuses on singing songs about holidays, Shabbat, and Israel. While learning vocabulary in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish and incorporating creative movement, students learn about the elements of music. Exploration of orchestral instruments is included as well. Through Israeli dance classes, the students begin building a useful repertoire of folk dances. Creative movement is incorporated into the curriculum through the use of songs associated with the language program.