First Grade
Wayland Union Schools
Language Arts
Wayland Union Schools utilizes the Reader's and Writer's Workshop model for Language Arts Instruction. Our district utilizes the Lucy Calkins Units of Study for Reading and Writing as the basis of our Language Arts program but supplement based on the needs of students, which vary from year to year. Students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade also complete the Saxon Phonics program in order to establish a firm foundation in phonics skills.
Essential Standards for 1st Language Arts:
- Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis and decoding skills
- Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension
- Retell stories and text including key details and identify the main topic of a text
- With support from an adult, focus on a topic and be able to respond to questions from peers and add details to strengthen writing.
In accordance with Michigan's new Third Grade Reading Law, all students must be within one grade level of reading proficiency at the end of their Third Grade year. To read about how you can help your child reach reading proficiency, please check out our Read At Home Plan.
Mathematics
Wayland Union Schools utilizes Everyday Mathematics as the core resource for addressing our math curriculum.
Essential Standards for 1st Grade Math:
- Identify and write numbers to 120
- Identify two-digit numbers and numbers that are greater than, less than, or equal to each other
- Add and subtract numbers within 10
- Identify place value for 1s and 10s.
Parents looking to help their child with math at home might find the following resources useful.
Everyday Math At Home - 1st Grade
Science
Wayland Union Schools utilizes Mystery Science as the core resource for addressing the Michigan Science standards. Currently, students in First Grade will study plant and animal structures and survival, the sun, moon and stars, and properties of light and sound during the school year.
Mystery Science
Social Studies
The first grade social studies curriculum uses the context of “Families and Schools” to guide students in the study of history, geography, civics and government, and economics. Using family histories, students develop historical thinking skills as they explore how life today (present) is like or different from family life in the past. As they use ideas of time and chronology, students also learn about the people and events that are celebrated as part of the national holidays of the United States. Students address geographic concepts and develop spatial skills through map construction and visual representations. In addition, students begin to explore how humans interact with their environments and some of the consequences of those interactions. In civics and government, school is used as a context for learning about why people create rules, the distinction between power and authority, and the characteristics of citizenship. Economic principles are explored using the context of family. Students investigate ways in which families consume goods and services, how people make a living, and how scarcity and choice affect economic decisions. Students continue to develop an understanding of public issues, the importance of citizen action, and begin to communicate their positions on public issues.
Source: MAISA Social Studies 1st Grade Course Description
Exploratory Classes
Elementary students at Wayland Union Schools attend classes in Music, Physical Education, Media, and Art on a weekly basis.
Helping your Child at Home
Wayland Union Schools offers access to several different programs that can keep students learning at home. Please read below to learn about the various programs. Usage may vary from grade to grade so please be sure to look at the target audience and work with your child's teacher to maximize the benefit of each program.
Please contact your child's teacher or the Technology Helpdesk (helpdesk@waylandunion.org) for usernames and passwords for the various websites.
To learn about the different programs that students may utilize at home, click here.
General Information
The elementary curriculum at Wayland Union Schools is aligned with the
Common Core State Standards for Math and Language Arts and Michigan Standards for
Science and
Social Studies. Though essential standards and general topics of study have been identified for each content area, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in all or most grade level standards in order to be promoted to the next grade level.
