Language Arts work in 1st grade includes these activities and areas of focus:

Reading

• Guided reading in a group with an emphasis on comprehension
• Daily independent reading time
• Individual reading with a teacher

Writing

• Word work with a focus on four sounds per week
• Spelling with an emphasis on beginning and ending letter sounds
• Using a “word wall” to model frequently used words as well as a “word ring,” a student’s individual dictionary made up of words used during journal writing
• Learning handwriting with the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum
• Journal work, usually comprised of a weekly drawing with accompanying text