First Grade Syllabus

 

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Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) for ELA, Math and Science

GPS for Language Arts:  First grade students will receive instruction in reading, writing, and listening, speaking, and viewing.  By the end of 1st Grade, students will be able to:
  • Apply more advanced phonics skills to decode words
  • Recognize a bank of sight words
  • Begin monitoring and self-correcting their reading
  • Relate what they read and hear to their own experiences
  • Produce text through speaking and writing
  • Begin using the writing process to plan and produce writing
  • Write a story that shows focus and organization
  • Expand sentences and recognize paragraphs
  • Apply basic rules of language and spelling
  • Show evidence of the appropriate use of more formal language registers
GPS for Mathematics:  All students will be actively engaged in developing mathematical understandings in real and relevant contexts.  By the end of 1st Grade, students will be able to:
  • Understand and use the concept of ones and tens in the place value number system
  • Represent quantity with numbers, models, diagrams, and number sentences
  • Add and subtract small numbers
  • Use tools for measuring length, weight, capacity, and time (hour, half hour, days in week, months in year, duration or sequence of events)
  • Observe, create, identify, classify, describe, and build basic geometric shapes
  • Arrange and describe objects in space
  • Solve simple problems, including geometric ones involving spatial relationships, and use the strategy of making a picture or diagram
  • Pose questions and collect data, and organize and interpret data represented by tally marks, pictures, and bar graphs
GPS for Science:  First grade students will use inquiry to focus on questions about the world around them, including questions related to earth science, physical science, and life science.  DeKalb students are taught science through the use of Critical Experiences which are direct experiences that children should have when studying a specific content area.  By the end of 1st Grade, students will be able to:
  • Observe, measure, and communicate weather data
  • Identify what things can do when put together and what cannot be done when things are not put together
  • Create drawings that correctly depict a specific thing being described
  • Make observations, ask questions about, and investigate patterns
  • Investigate light, sound, and magnets
  • Note repeating patterns in shadows, weather, and daily needs of plants and animals
  • Demonstrate awareness of the characteristics and basic needs of living things
     
GPS for Social Studies:   First grade students will explore history, geography, and government through the study of selected heroes from American history. In addition, they will continue to acquire basic economic concepts. By the end of 1st grade, students will be able to:
  • Identify and describe the lives of significant historical American figures
  • Explain how American folktales characterize our national heritage
  • Describe the cultural and geographic systems associated with selected historical figures
  • Locate their own city, county, state, nation and continent on a simple map or globe
  • Describe the positive character traits of the selected historical figures
  • Explain the meaning of patriotic language in selected American songs
  • Identify, describe, and explain basic ideas related to goods, services, scarcity, producers and consumers, and spending and saving
     
National Standards for Physical Education and Health

Physical Education: The goal of physical education is to develop physically educated individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity.  The curriculum for physical education includes six national standards:
  • Standard 1: Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.
  • Standard 2: Demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities.
  • Standard 3: Participates regularly in physical activity.
  • Standard 4: Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
  • Standard 5: Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.
  • Standard 6: Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.
Health Education provides students with the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics related to their physical, emotional, and social health.  The curriculum for health includes eight national standards:
  • Standard 1: Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.
  • Standard 2: Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology and other factors on health behaviors.
  • Standard 3: Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information and products and services to enhance health.
  • Standard 4: Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks.
  • Standard 5: Students will demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health.
  • Standard 6: Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health.
  • Standard 7: Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce risks.
  • Standard 8: Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family and community health.
Core Instructional Materials and Resources (Textbook/Publisher/web links):

English Language Arts:   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: StoryTown

Mathematics:  Houghton Mifflin:  Math Expressions & Math Georgia

Science:   Houghton Mifflin Georgia Science

Social Studies:    Houghton Mifflin Social Studies: Georgia

Physical Education and Health:  

Web Links for Parental Support
English language arts  Web Links for Parental Support
Mathematics  Web Links for Parental Support:
Science  Web Links for Parental Support
Social Studies  Web Links for Parental Support
Physical Education and Health Web Links for Parental Support

Passwords for Student Links

  • Listed below are the websites, usernames, and access codes to retrieve online textbook resources per grade-level and content area for grades K-5.
  • The same username and pass code can be utilized to access the Math, Science, and Social Studies online textbook. Example:  To access the Math, Science, and Social Studies textbook, log on to http://www.eduplace.com/eservices and input the username Kclassdekalb and password: dekalbstudentk.  
 
English Language Arts
Math, Science, and Social Studies
Grade 1
          Username: 1classdekalb
         Password: dekalbstudent1
Username:  1classdekalb
Password:  dekalbstudent1




Grading Scale:  Weighted Averages (Board Policy)
A  =  90% – 100%     Excellent
B  =  80% - 89%        Good
C  =  71% - 79%        Fair
D  =  70                      Passing
F  =  below 70           Failing

Grading Policy:  
  • Classwork/Participation - 40 %  
  • Tests & Quizzes 30%
  • Projects 25%
  • Homework 5%
Homework Times for Grade 1:
First Grade students should receive between 20 minutes to 30 minutes of content area homework per night and reading for practice and/or pleasure can be beyond this time.