First Grade

First Grade

Fun Learning and Big Discoveries Await!

A note to families and caregivers: First grade is an exciting new chapter for your child! At this stage, they are beginning to understand how school works and exploring the basics of learning. It’s natural for first graders to show varying levels of progress—sometimes, they might seem to advance quickly, while at other times, they may face challenges. Learning can come easily in some areas but be more difficult in others.

Both families and teachers play a crucial role in supporting children through their learning journey. It’s important for your child to understand that learning is a process that takes practice and that overcoming challenges is a valuable part of growth. Every step forward, from recognizing sight words to reading a whole book independently, helps build their confidence.

At North Kitsap Elementary Schools, we provide a rich and engaging curriculum designed to support and inspire your child:

• English Language Arts: Students dive into CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts), which helps develop their reading, writing, and language skills through interactive and comprehensive lessons. Here is the link to the CKLA Family Hub

• Mathematics: In first-grade math, students will build on their kindergarten experiences counting to 100 and working with numbers within 20 to:
  • Use objects, draw pictures, or use symbols to solve real-world problems within 20
  • Understand the relationship between addition and subtraction and use it flexibly to solve problems within 20
  • Learn addition and subtraction facts within 10
  • Understand and use the equal sign
  • Read, write, and count up to 120
  • Understand the place value (tens and ones) of 2-digit numbers
  • Compare 2-digit numbers using the symbols <, >, =
  • Use place value understanding (with objects, pictures, and numbers) to solve problems within 100
  • Measure length using units such as inches

Through iReady Mathematics, we address each child's unique learning needs in math, ensuring they build a strong foundation in mathematical concepts. Here is the link to the iReady Family Center

• Science: Our Mystery Science curriculum offers our first-grade students hands-on, exciting explorations of the natural world, sparking curiosity and a love for science. Mystery Science is an interactive curriculum that is fully aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Mystery Science’s units of study contain:
  • Hands-on, easy prep activities with EVERY lesson
  • Engaging, real-world investigative phenomena
  • Thoughtful discussions to build background knowledge
  • Curated, cross-curricular extensions Mystery Science also offers the Anchor Layer, which enriches the unit with an anchoring phenomenon, incorporates anchor connections after each lesson, & concludes the unit with a performance task.

For more information about Mystery Science, click here.

• Social and Emotional Learning: We continue to focus on social and emotional growth using the RULER approach. This helps children manage their emotions, build positive relationships, and develop essential social skills. For more information on the RULER approach, click here.

As you support your child in their first-grade adventure, celebrate both the small daily achievements and the larger milestones. Recognizing these accomplishments helps them discover their “Super Reader” and “Super Mathematician” powers!

Explore further resources at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction: OSPI Parent Resources.