The Mom I Want to Be

 

Following is a list of topics that are part of a well-rounded first grade classroom. Use this list as a starting point for a customized course of study for your 6 or 7 year old. These items are in addition to lower-level skills.

 

Language Arts

Reading (greater phonemic awareness and decoding skills)

Establish extensive sight vocabulary (Dolch sight words)

Ability to read common words (name, signs, etc.)

Dramatic play

Creating stories and poems

Simple narration of favorite stories

Following and giving multiple instructions, properly and with clarity

Book Reports and Critiques

Participation in group discussion

Alphabetizing

Beginning spelling (particularly words with same ending or beginning)

Beginning grammar (nouns, verbs, adjectives)

Beginning punctuation and capitalization

Advanced printing/manuscript skills

Using table of contents

 

 

Math

Counting and writing numbers to 100

Counting by 2s to 40

Counting by 5s to 50

Simple number patterns

Concept of ordinal and cardinal numbers

Beginning ordinal numbers

Concept of zero

Place value & sets (units/ones, tens, hundreds)

Single digit addition and subtraction to 9

Double digit addition without carrying

Use of number line to add and subtract large numbers

Concept of equality and inequality

Estimation

Concept of 1/2 and 1/4

Complex shapes (rectangle, oval, etc.)

Basic customary and metric measurements

Telling time to quarter hour (analog)

Matching analog and digital time

Value of penny, nickel, dime, quarter

Simple addition and subtraction word problems

Basic charting and graphing

Basic Probability and chance

 

Science/Health/Safety

Pets / Farm Animals / Zoo Animals / Woodland Animals

Grouping and classification

Common birds

Habitats

Solids, liquids, gasses

Living vs. Nonliving

Air & water

Magnet study

Fire & temperature

Sun, moon, stars, planets

Simple machines

Beginning Experimentation

Introduction to scientific method

Seeds, Bulbs, Plants, Flowers

Weather and Seasons

Hygiene

Dental health

Proper eating habits

Exercise and Rest

Common diseases

Dressing for the weather

Street safety rules

Recognition of safety signs, police officers, directional signals, etc.

 

Social Studies

Beginning American History

Basic geography terms (north, south, left, right, etc)

Making and reading simple (neighborhood) map

Holidays Traditions and Customs like Christmas, Hanukkah, Independence Day, etc.

American Heritage such immigration and mixing of cultures.

Different Cultures during different times

Family, school, neighborhood, community including neighborhood helpers like police, firemen, crossing guards, etc.

Farm and zoo

Jobs and careers

Social skills and responsibilities

 

Art/Music

Continued exposure to variety or musical and art genres

Expanded experience in creating with various mediums

Continued dramatic play

Exposure to theater and dance

Proper behavior at events