Primary Unit Topics

All primary grades (JK-2) have integrated language arts and social studies.  Therfore, all unit topics for JK-2 are the same as social studies topics. 

Junior Kindergarten

This is a daily learning process incorporated in all topics and areas of the classroom. We use Handwriting Without Tears method to learn the correct process of letter formation. We also write in our journals and dictate stories. We read various levels of books both in groups and individually. We have an ongoing reading, writing, and listening center. Connecting the outside world with reading is fostered within the room. Dialogue is very important as well as practicing phonemes on a regular basis. Differentiation is a must have practice at this age level and is successfully administered within the JK program.

Kindergarten

Literacy and writing skills are taught through guided reading, independent reading, writer's workshop, and working with words in kindergarten.  Kindergarten students are taught the begining stages of reading through a balance of whole language and phonics instruction.  Units in kindergarten language arts are centered around social studies topics (All About Us, Long Ago and Yesterday, Holidays and Traditions, Maps and Globes, Using a Calendar). We also use science topics and math topics as other places to integrate language arts into our curriculum.  These topics guide our choices for books to read with and to the class, as well as pieces of writing that we create.  

First Grade

Reading:

Literacy skills are taught through writing workshop and autor studies, and by integrations social studies and language arts, in addition to individualized spelling and reading programs.

Writing:

Writer's Workshop is a writing program developed by Lucy Calkins that encourages children to write about personal experiences individually and then work with the teacher to edit and improve their written work.  Children create a variety of works from open ended journal writing to letters, stories, and poetry.  They learn to use descriptive words, express their thoughts and feelings, and edit and review their work. 

Author Studies:

Author studies are a way for children to learn to read and appreciate a variety of genres and recognize different styles of writing. Author studies are the same for first and second grade, though they are taught separately to each grade level with different learning goals for each grade.

Year One: (08-09) Kevin Henkes, Eric Carle,  Tommie dePaola, Laura Numeroff,  Cynthia Rylant, Dav Pilkey, Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein.

Year Two (09-10) Tedd Arnold, Patricia Polacco, Lois Ehlert, Marc Brown, Audrey Wood, Robert Munsch, and Jan Brett.

Second Grade

Reading:

Literacy skills are taught through writing workshop and autor studies, and by integrations social studies and language arts, in addition to individualized spelling and reading programs.

Writing:

Writer's Workshop is a writing program developed by Lucy Calkins that encourages children to write about personal experiences individually and then work with the teacher to edit and improve their written work.  Children create a variety of works from open ended journal writing to letters, stories, and poetry.  They learn to use descriptive words, express their thoughts and feelings, and edit and review their work. 

Author Studies:

Author studies are a way for children to learn to read and appreciate a variety of genres and recognize different styles of writing. Author studies are the same for first and second grade, though they are taught separately to each grade level with different learning goals for each grade.

Year One: (08-09) Kevin Henkes, Eric Carle, Lois Ehlert, Tommie dePaola, Tedd Arnold, Laura Numeroff, Mem Fox, Cynthia Rylant, Dav Pilkey, Jack Prelutshy and Shel Silverstein.

Year Two (09-10) George Ella Lyon, Patricia Polacco, Leo Leoni, Gerald McDermott, Marc Brown, Audrey Wood, Robert Munsch, and Jan Brett.

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