1st Grade
The Serviam Shield, a symbol of our commitment to serve, is worn on all student uniforms. Serving others is a component of every class curriculum. More importantly, the active engagement in service, from Pre-Kindergarten through our expanded middle school community service program, not only plants the Serviam seed in all Mount Merici students toward a greater likelihood that they will become leaders and good stewards in the world as adults but also instills in young children a belief in their own abilities to influence positive change and compassionate improvements in the world around them.
Whether our youngest students are collecting food to benefit the local ‘Weekend Backpack Program’ or contributing their own precious dimes and dollars to the ‘Rice Bowl Program’, they recognize that they are capable of helping to feed children less fortunate than they are and that with some compassion and effort, they can make a difference.
Our 6th and 7th-grade students work diligently every week at the area soup kitchen, food bank, the Muskie Center for elders and disabled adults, here at school, and on a multitude of fulfilling service projects.
Our 8th-grade students draw from the wealth of their previous years of service work to create a year-long senior service project based on their own individual interests. so that they leave Mount Merici Academy with a clear understanding of their abilities to extend their hearts and hands by contributing their own individual gifts in their communities and in the world-at-large. At Mount Merici Academy, every child learns what it feels like to make a difference.
Learn About the 1st Grade Curriculum
Religion Curriculum:
Grades K-3 religion curriculum will include the use of the book Christ Our Life by Loyola Press. The Christ Our Life Workbook, includes 5 units with a total of 24 weekly lessons. Grades 3-8 will use the Pflaum Gospel Weekly series. Students will receive a “pamphlet” type packet that focuses on Catholic faith through the Gospels. Students participate in daily prayer, school wide Liturgies, service projects and daily experiences in living Christian values. Special Liturgical seasonal activities include: Christmas programing, Advent activities, St. Angela study, Lenten projects and Easter season activities. Teaching in the Ursuline tradition will allow the students to grow spiritually and emotionally while learning about God in a safe and supportive environment.
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Math
Children will develop understanding and insight of the patterns of mathematics through the use of manipulatives. Problem solving skills will be an important piece of each topic. Children will explore the following topics:
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Patterns
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Sorting/Classifying/Graphing
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Counting (Understanding numbers to 100)
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Place Value
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Money
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Measurement
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Time
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Geometry
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Fractions
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Adding and Subtracting facts to 18
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Problem Solving Skills
Reading – Various “leveled” books
We will learn to read using various strategies such as: decoding words phonetically, using picture clues, and using context clues. Children will strengthen comprehension skills with group discussion and individual reading response activities. Students will work daily with first grade phonics skills. We will use various leveled books to meet your child’s individual needs. The children will be grouped by level and will work to progress from their beginning level.
First Grade Phonics Skills: beginning and ending letter sounds, short vowels, long vowels, blends and digraphs, compound words, contractions, and plurals.
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Spelling
Students will learn to read and spell high frequency words and learn the phonetical patterns which allow them to decode and spell many words. Spelling lists will be composed of ten words (four high frequency words and six phonetically patterned words). Children will receive a weekly spelling list on Mondays to practice at home and in school. A spelling test will be given each Friday. The goal is for students to begin using more conventional spelling as the year progresses.
Writing
The children will begin to use the writing process as they write from their personal experiences. Students will use invented spelling and progress toward conventional spelling. Writing to communicate will be integrated throughout the curriculum. Students will have the opportunity to share their writing with teachers and classmates. We will use the “Handwriting Without Tears” curriculum where children will progress to learn correct letter formation habits. First Grade Grammar Skills: capitalization, punctuation marks (period, comma, question mark, exclamation point)
Science
Students will learn to make observations and predictions as they are involved in experience-based lessons. We will bring abstract concepts to a concrete level with experiments and activities. First graders will study Energy, Simple Machines, Plants, Geology, Oceanography, Animals and Health and Human Body.
Social Studies
Students will learn about the following topics and connect what they learn to their own personal experiences: Careers/Community, Holidays, Map/Globe Skills, State of Maine, and Cultures around the World.
Circle of Grace Program
Students will be encouraged to trust their instincts and role-play ways to stay safe in various situations. This program strives for a balance that will preserve as much of the innocence and optimism of childhood while making students aware of potentially dangerous people and situations.
Parents are encouraged to talk with their child about the topics discussed at school. Hopefully, your child will come home with comments/questions that will lead to further conversations within your family.
Classroom Management Plan
We will learn about and practice this the first week of school and begin using it in the second week.
Expectations:
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Respect all people and their belongings.
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Be a good listener.
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Take turns talking. Raise hands when you want to talk.
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Use inside voices.
Positive Reinforcement for Appropriate Behavior
Praise. It is important to reinforce positive behavior and we will look for opportunities to do this throughout the day. A reward program will be developed with student input on how their positive behavior can be rewarded.
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Consequences for Inappropriate Behavior
1. Verbal warning with discussion of appropriate behavior.
2. Second Verbal warning – loss of privilege.
3. Third warning – note/phone call home.
Homework
Children will be asked to read to their parents for 10-15 minutes each night. Your child will bring home a reading log at the beginning of each month, to be returned at the end of the month. Beginning in January, children will bring home math facts to study.
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Grading
Your child will receive grades in the following areas: Religion, Reading and Language, Spelling, Mathematics, Writing, Penmanship, Social Studies, Science, Music, Physical Education, French, Computers, Effort and Behavior.
The grading system for Grade One is:
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V = Very Good
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S = Satisfactory
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I = Improving
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N = Needs Improvement