Language Arts Curriculum First Grade The First Grade language arts curriculum is a literature and phonics based program integrated across the curriculum. Students are given opportunities to transfer language arts skills into their daily reading and writing. First graders are able to demonstrate these skills in making words, completing cloze activities, journaling, creative writing, speaking, and various reading activities. Trade books are utilized to demonstrate and develop reading skills. I. Writing A. Process - The students will utilize the writing process to complete ready to publish compositions. 1. Prewrite a. Determine purpose b. Brainstorm ideas c. Create a graphic organizer 2. Compose first draft 3. Conference with teacher 4. Edit and revise draft 5. Proofread 6. Publish B. Types of Writing 1. Use the writing process - The students will develop, compose, and utilize the writing process for the following types of writing: a. Narrative b. Expository c. Descriptive d. Persuasive e. Opinion f. Compare and contrast g. How-to h. Creative writing i. Letter writing j. Poetry 2. Use other techniques - The students will review and practice the following types of writing: a. Journals b. Summary C. Composition 1. Write a sentence a. Write a complete sentence b. Communicate ideas
2. Write a paragraph a. Develop a topic sentence b. Develop supporting sentences c. Sequence ideas d. Practice paragraph unity e. Create a concluding sentence 3. Write an essay a. Develop a main idea D. Handwriting 1. Hold pencil correctly 2. Manipulate crayons, scissors, and other writing utensils 3. Review formation of upper and lowercase letters II. Aural Language - Listening The student will develop the following listening skills: A. Look at the speaker B. Determine purpose 1. Clarify the main idea or details 2. Follow multi-step directions 3. Ask and answer questions 4. Sequence events 5. Conference with peers 6. Appreciate literature 7. Recognize rhymes and rhythm 8. Listen critically III. Oral Language - Speaking The student will develop and practice the following speaking skills: A. Organize thoughts B. Take turns C. Enunciate D. Utilize expressive tone E. Make eye contact F. Monitor pace and fluency G. Retell H. Report I. Practice choral reading J. Speak in front of an audience K. Attend to scripted signals
IV. Reading Analysis A. Phonics 1. Identify initial, medial, and final consonants 2. Identify initial and final clusters 3. Identify short vowels 4. Identify long vowels 5. Review controlled vowel sounds 6. Explore r controlled vowel sounds 7. Review inflected verb forms 8. Recognize consonant diagraphs 9. Review silent letters 10. Recognize rhyming words 11. Blend sounds (sound out) 12. Review syllabication 13. Review sight words B. Comprehension 1. Identify the main idea 2. Recall Details 3. Distinguish between similarities and differences 4. Follow directions 5. Interpret context clues 6. Comprehend a picture 7. Sequence events 8. Draw conclusions 9. Predict outcomes 10. Make inferences 11. Differentiate between fantasy and reality 12. Differentiate between fact and opinion 13. Understand relationship between cause and effect 14. Identify author s purpose C. Elements of Literature 1. Identify characterization 2. Determine setting 3. Identify poetic elements V. Mechanics and Usage of Language A. Grammar 1. Nouns a. Understand definition of a noun b. Distinguish difference between common and proper c. Determine singular and plural d. Explore possessives e. Review compound
2. Pronouns a. Understand definition of a pronoun b. Use personal pronouns correctly c. Explore subject and object pronouns 3. Verbs a. Understand definition of a verb b. Introduce verb tenses c. Explore action and linking verbs d. Explore irregular verbs 4. Adjectives a. Understand definition of an adjective b. Identify articles c. Explore comparative and superlative adjectives 5. Adverbs a. Understand the definition of an adverb b. Explore adverbs 6. Sentence Parts a. Explore subject and predicate b. Explore parts of speech c. Identify sentence parts d. Write simple sentences e. Identify run-ons and fragments B. Mechanics of Writing 1. Capitalize the following: a. First word of a sentence b. Proper nouns and adjectives c. Pronoun I d. Titles and initials e. Titles of written works f. Abbreviations g. Salutation and closing of letters 2. Use the following punctuation: a. Period at the end of a sentence b. Periods with abbreviations and initials c. Question mark d. Exclamation mark e. Comma in dates f. Comma after salutation and closing of a letter g. Comma to separate city, state, country h. Comma with items in a series i. Underlining titles/italics j. Apostrophe in contraction k. Apostrophe in possessives
C. Vocabulary 1. Identify word meaning 2. Explore structure-root 3. Explore prefixes and suffixes 4. Identify synonyms/ antonyms 5. Identify homophones 6. Identify homonyms 7. Use context clues 8. Interpret analogies 9. Identify word usage 10. Explore guide words VI. VII. Cognitive Skills A. Critical Thinking - The student will analyze, recognize, and differentiate between the following skills: 1. Compare and contrast 2. Draw conclusions 3. Make observations 4. Use problem solving skills 5. Sequence ideas 6. Use comprehension skills 7. Analyze B. Creative Thinking - The student will use the following skills: 1. Elaborate 2. Predict 3. Speculate Cognitive Skill Application A. Research and Study Skills 1. Identify parts of a book 2. Recognize author and title 3. Introduce alphabetical order 4. Use a dictionary 5. Review graphic organizers 6. Read content material 7. Use a library 8. Organize data B. Study Skills 1. Utilize mnemonic devices 2. Create and use flash cards 3. Practice applicable songs C. Test Taking Skills 1. Eliminate known incorrect responses 2. Follow directions 3. Attend to key words 4. Use time wisely
Evaluation Students will be evaluated by teacher observations, class work, and formal assessments. Resources Texts Leveled trade books Daily Language Review, grade 2, Evan-Moor Websites abcya.com Educational games and activities starfall.com Educational games and activities