The first and second grade years are a wonderful time in a child’s school experience.
We are committed to creating a nurturing learning environment for our students. Our classrooms are built on key components of honesty, fairness, and respect. We work together with our students to create communities where high academic and social goals are expected and attained, while at the same time making learning fun and joyful. We strike a balance between the work and play of school.
Formal reading instruction begins in first grade, and we do so by integrating phonetic and whole language principles. Ours is a balanced approach to teaching not only reading, but the range of language arts skills including writing mechanics and fluency, spelling and vocabulary, speaking, and listening. Mathematics in first and second grade focuses on the development of math skills, concepts, and computation. We help students to build their repertoire of effective problem solving strategies and to articulate their mathematical thinking.
Our social studies content includes units that emphasize interpersonal knowledge by exploring family, friends, and individual differences. Children also examine the culture and heritage of Minnesota’s indigenous people, Ancient Egyptians, and children from around the world. Formal map skills are introduced, with special emphasis placed on Minnesota, the United States, and the continents. First and second graders have several opportunities to gather research about a specific topic and complete a project based on that knowledge.
We place special importance on establishing a positive rapport with our students’ families. We do this through open and consistent communication with parents, including a ‘Hopes and Dreams’ conference, weekly newsletters, scheduled conferences, and informal conversations before and after school. Parents are an invaluable source of insight and information about their child’s growth and development.