First and Second Grade

Show All Hide All

Love of Learning

For our first and second grade students every day is a new adventure. They are very enthusiastic and motivated to learn. They love to 'work' and they look forward to each and every day.

At PBS, we understand that six and seven year olds learn best through guided discovery. They enjoy hands-on exploration such as taking things apart and putting them back together again. They enjoy the process more than the product and love sharing their observations and explaining what they have learned through out the process. They are very hard working and motivated students.

Our day typically begins with a morning meeting. This is where students gather as a class each morning to greet one another, share news and warm up for the day ahead of them.

Depending on the day, children receive guided instruction in the areas of reading, word study, writing, mathematics, science, art, music, physical education, technology, music and more. All classrooms are set up in ways that encourage independence, cooperation, respect, and productivity.

The day typically ends with a reflective time where children think about and celebrate the school day.

Reading/Literature

First and second grade students are beginning to 'crack the code' of the written language and see themselves as readers and writers. Our classrooms are print rich environments where students will find classroom libraries that are designed to encourage a love of books and reading. Children are free to select books for their own interest and enjoyment. Research shows that 'access to an abundance of books within the classroom results in increased reading motivation and increased reading achievement.' (Guthrie, Schafer, Von Secker & Alban 2000). A wide variety of genre is offered such as fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction, picture books, folktales, fairy tales, short stories, biography, how-to books and poetry.

Reading skills develop at different rates and different times for every student. Children enter first and second grade with a wide spectrum of reading abilities. From 'reading' pictures to reading fluently, we seek to meet the independent and instructional needs of every young reader who walks through our doors.

For a description of the various developmental reading stages, reference: The Fountas and Pinnell 'Building an Effective Reading Process Over Time.'

In first and second grades students will:

• Learn and use developmentally appropriate strategies for learning to read through appropriate leveled books, picture context cues, decoding skills, re-reading, self correcting and sight word vocabulary


• Develop fluency and comprehension skills


• Understand different genres specifically, fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction, folktales, and poetry


• Identify main idea and supporting ideas


• Support personal viewpoint with evidence from text


• Develop comprehension strategies such as making predictions, asking questions, re-telling or synthesizing what is read, and drawing inferences from the text


• Discuss and/or respond to feelings and opinions about text when listening and in writing


• Participate in small group and whole class teacher-led discussions around a common topic through shared reading, guided reading, and Reader's Workshop.

Writing

Writing is taught in a workshop setting and is also a skill that is integrated throughout most subject areas. First and second graders experience a developmental leap as they begin to write stories with beginning, middle and end. Characters, settings and plots emerge. They have a tendency to write about anything and everything, with more attention paid to details, punctuation and grammar. Writing themes include family, friends, vacations, pets, play dates and sleepovers, loosing teeth and sports.

In first and second grades students will:

• Use the writer's process introduced in Writer's Workshop (draft, edit, revise and publish)


• Write almost daily for extended periods of time using a writer's notebook


• Demonstrate ways writer's sketch, write or dictate their ideas


• Engage in a variety of writing experiences such as letter writing, personal narratives, fiction, non-fiction and expository writing


• Learn developmentally appropriate spelling patterns and sight words


• Show increased phonetic and sight word fluency


• Develop capitalization and punctuation skills

For a description of the various developmental writing stages, reference: The Fountas and Pinnell 'Building an Effective Writing Process Over Time.'

Listening and Speaking

Children who are effective communicators experience more success in school and in other areas of their lives. Helping children develop their listening and speaking skills will prepare them for life. At the Phillips Brooks School communication skills are taught, modeled, practiced, and improved on a daily basis across the curriculum.

In first and second grades students will:

• Listen attentively while making eye contact


• Sit quietly using attentive posture in both large and small groups


• Show respect for speakers and listeners


• Follow simple, multi-step directions


• Participate in class discussions around a common topic


• Respond to questions appropriately and in context


• Participate in oral presentations and/or class plays

Mathematics

Every child learns math differently. The goal of our math program in first and second grade is to help children develop skills and attitudes to encourage confident and capable young mathematicians. Our program provides opportunities for students this age to:

• Do mental math and problem solving after they have mastered the necessary skills with concrete materials


• Do basic computation with money, sometimes using a calculator or computer


• Experiment with addition and subtraction in a fun, game-like fashion


• Work with fractions by weighing, measuring, and comparing


• Experiment with symmetry and other simple geometry by using pattern blocks and tangrams


• Develop spatial awareness and problem solving techniques


• Practice basic addition and subtraction skills in fun, informal, and concrete ways

Everyday Mathematics© program anchors our math curriculum at PBS. Questions posed to students are open-ended which allows children to develop at their own developmental level or pace.

To find out more about the Everyday Mathematics© program and grade specific content go to: http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/

Art

The goal of our PBS Art Program is to provide an environment that stimulates the growth of artistic perception, creative expression, aesthetics and cultural awareness. Artistic perception is developed as young artists respond to the world around them and learn to 'see more.' Creative expression is enhanced by the application of artistic process and skills, the understanding of elements and principals of art and design, and by using a variety of media and tools. Students will gain a sense of their personal aesthetics and learn to communicate opinions and insight, using visual arts vocabulary, in dialogue with their teacher and other students. The cultural and historical dimension of our arts program is strengthened by connections with music, science, social studies and literature. Our young artists enjoy working on individual projects and collaborating with others, in a positive environment where process is valued over product.

In first grade students will:

• Create a variety of patterns with lines, shapes, and color


• Mix secondary colors from primary colors and describe the process


• Demonstrate beginning skill in the manipulation and use of clay and create a pot and lid


• Demonstrate beginning skill using drawing and painting materials


• Identify shapes as geometric or organic


• Use symmetry to create a simple collage or drawing


• Create a paper weaving


• Understand the symmetry of the face to create a portrait


• Create a painting from an idea or feeling


• Accurately trace and cut simple shapes


• Begin using art related vocabulary in reference to the elements of art

In second grade students will:

• Demonstrate beginning skill in the use of basic tools and art-making processes such as printing, rubbing, collage, and stencils


• Demonstrate beginning skill in the use of art media such as oil pastels, watercolors, tempra paint, color pencils, and ink


• Depict the illusion of depth in a work of art using overlapping shapes, relative size, and placement within the picture


• Create a painting or drawing using warm or cool colors expressively


• Use bilateral or radial symmetry to create visual balance


• Create simple organic forms from clay


• Draw or paint a still life using secondary colors


• Use patterns to create visual and actual texture in original works of art


• Begin to use value to add shadows and highlights


• Use art vocabulary to discuss elements of art

Library

Through stories and book talks, the library fosters an appreciation of traditional and current literature, as students are exposed to the best of fiction and nonfiction books. We organize weekly lessons around themes of cultural literacy, information literacy and classroom collaborations.

First Graders enjoy classic fairy tales, Cinderella stories from around the world, and folk tales. We spend time comparing traditional stories with various adaptations. Nursery rhymes are reviewed and biographies are introduced at First Grade, and connections with classroom curricula are incorporated. Time in the library offers the students of Phillips Brooks an opportunity to enjoy and share books with friends in a relaxing atmosphere.

Second Graders enjoy hearing folktales from cultures all around the world, and other stories that connect to classroom curricula. In the spring, the students begin to use the library for beginning research. Time in the library offers the students of Phillips Brooks an opportunity to enjoy and share books with friends in a relaxing atmosphere.

American Library Association standards are consulted when planning information literacy goals for each grade level. They may be seen at: http://thepbs.org/pages/aboutus.html

Please visit our virtual library at http://thepbs.org/.

Music

The music department at PBS provides students with the opportunity to develop their inherent musicianship and prepare for life-long participation in the performing arts. We strive to balance intellectual components with aesthetic awareness while nurturing skilled, creative and flexible musicians. Music classes incorporate a broad spectrum of music pedagogy including the philosophies of Carl Orff and Zoltan Kodaly. Students are guided through a sequential process of learning, using pentatonic song material, speech, movement, and ostinati, as well as introducing instrumental parts through speech and/or body percussion. Performance practice is an integral part of the music program. Performances allow students to demonstrate skills, develop confidence in expressing themselves in front of an audience, foster a positive feeling of an ensemble with their peers, and experience the joy of performing. PBS graduates are insightful and creative musicians with a love for music.

In FIRST GRADE, we focus specifically on these main themes:

• Loud-Soft


• Fast-Slow


• Timbre


• Long-Short


• Beat


• Accent (duple meters)


• Simple vs. Compound (duple meters)


• Phrase


• Form


• Melody


• Develop in-tune singing (identifying 'so' and 'mi')


• Instrumental identification


• Performance etiquette and observation


• Identify and comprehend quarter notes and eighth notes using 'ta' and 'ti ti'

In SECOND GRADE, we focus specifically on these main themes:

• Rhythmic learning


• Review quarter notes and eighth notes using 'ta' and 'ti-ti'


• Review quarter rest


• Prepare, make conscious, and reinforce ties and the half note using 6/8 meter and 4/4/ meter


• Pulses in compound meter


• Conduct 2/4 and 6/8 songs in 2's


• Fermata


• Read, write and conduct songs in 4/4 meter


• Melodic learning


• Review 'so, mi, la'


• Prepare, make conscious, and reinforce 're' & 'do'


• Read, sing, notate and write songs with m-r-d


• Improvise answers using l-s-m-r-d


• Instrumental Learning


• Identification of instrumental families


• Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Strings


• Membranophones, Chordophones, Idiophones, Aerophones

Physical Education

Physical Education at PBS is based on building both physical and social skills. Physical skills are gained through a progression of activities based on skill level. Working with a partner or in a small group, students develop a sense of community, teamwork and sportsmanship, while overcoming challenges, increasing skills and playing together. Key to social development is understanding how to work both independently and in groups during physical activities. PBS graduates have built good sportsmanship, which contributes to the development of personal ethics that leads to making responsible lifelong decisions.

First and second graders will:

• Participate regularly in physical activity that increases breathing and heart rate


• Participate in activities with goals for personal improvement


• Apply safe practices and follow physical education rules and procedures


• Willingly cooperate with partners or in small and large groups


• Develop loco motor skills through movement activities such as skipping, hopping, jumping, leaping and gliding using proper form


• Change the speed of movement activities according to directions


• Drop and kick a ball


• Develop psycho motor through balancing, twisting, turning, rising, sinking, and bending


• Catch a ball after one bounce


• Throw using overhand and underhand motion


• Balance and transfer weight from one side to the other


• Jump a turned rope


• Participate in physical fitness assessment to measure and record improvement in individual fitness

Science

The science program encourages a curiosity about the world and emphasizes hands-on experience and observation. We seek to enable students to develop an intuitive understanding of the concepts of science. The program goal is to create a safe environment where the student feels encouraged to ask questions, explore, seek answers, test ideas and enjoy science. We use inquiry, creative problem solving skills, investigation and experimentation to explore scientific concepts. Students keep a journal to record important vocabulary words, questions and data from experiments, conclusions, diagrams and concepts learned.

In the first and second grades, we start science class with a question generated by the students, homeroom experiences or the science teacher. The children discuss what they know about the subject and predict what they think will happen. Materials to explore the topic are then passed out and the children experiment with the materials to try to find a solution to the question. In the process, new questions often arise for the next science class. At the end of science we summarize their discoveries.

In first grade students will explore:

• Life cycle, growth, characteristics, and habitats of insects and arthropods


• States of Matter, including solids, liquids, gases and how they can change


• Plant life and what they need to thrive


• Weather and how it is observed, measured, and described

In second grade students will explore:

• The motion of objects through observation and measurement


• The physical properties of different kinds of rocks


• Fossils, dinosaurs and the evidence they left behind about the plants and animals that lived long ago


• Life cycle, growth, characteristics and habitats of mammals

Technology

The goal of the technology program is to integrate authentic and age appropriate technology skills into all areas of the curriculum. Learning is enhanced through a variety of technological media.

In first grade students will:

• Identify and properly maneuver the mouse and explain how to use it


• Demonstrate proper poster at the keyboard


• Locate numbers, letters, and symbols on the keyboard


• Demonstrate responsible care of hardware and media resources


• Gather and organize information


• Access teacher approved web-based activities

In second grade students will:

• Demonstrate proper posture at the keyboard


• Use the mouse and keyboard effectively to navigate the computer screen and search for information


• Begin to practice and use proper touch typing techniques


• Configure input and output devices on the computer such as headphones and microphones


• Use approved search engines to find information


• Download selected information


• Access teacher approved web-based activities


• Create animated video, animating a single object

World Languages

Hola! Nihao! Welcome to our World Languages Program! In this global era, language acquisition skills have become an essential asset that promotes communication among the cultures of the world. At The Phillips Brooks School, our World Languages Program focuses both on teaching the Spanish and Mandarin languages and on deepening the students' understanding of the cultures where these languages are spoken in the U.S and abroad. Our program ensures that extensive vocabulary is taught in a meaningful and developmentally appropriate way and that it is reinforced from one unit to the next. We rely on various multi-sensory methods, including TPR (Total Physical Response), to build vocabulary skills by connecting words to specific actions. In addition, we incorporate music, skits and kinesthetic activities in our lessons in order to reach students with varying learning styles.

Spanish

The Spanish program strives to create confident language learners who will continue to expand their knowledge of the language and of the Spanish-speaking cultures beyond their tenure at PBS. The lessons are designed to target all four-language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing, in a developmentally appropriate way. The lessons are also tailored to address the needs of students with individual learning styles. For visual learners, a special emphasis is placed on the use of visual aids such as posters, pictures, and objects. For students with a solid math-logic inclination, special emphasis is placed on the review of basic to intermediate grammar paradigms that focus on the structural components of the language. For students with a kinesthetic and a musical (aural) disposition, there are plenty of opportunities to chant and move to the rhythm of the melodies taught in class by clapping, dancing and following the songs with musical instruments. Students are also encouraged to use puppets to engage in dialogues, perform short skits or narrate simple stories. In addition, learning takes place by engaging in games and activities that encourage participation and a safe environment for the students' language skills to strengthen and develop effectively.

Mandarin

The Mandarin Language Program at The Phillips Brooks School seeks to develop communicative skills through the use of the Mandarin language and understanding of the culture. Language and culture are integrated and brought into the classroom so that students not only learn to communicate in the target language but also learn to interact with native speakers of Mandarin in culturally appropriate ways. Class instruction is woven into other subject areas such as art, global education and mathematics. The curriculum is taught through monthly thematic units. Each month students learn a new theme/topic that builds upon their prior knowledge. Occasionally, special topics are demonstrated or presented by people invited from the local Mandarin-speaking community. Through these presentations, students have the opportunity to communicate with the native speakers and gain further knowledge and understanding of the Mandarin language and Chinese culture.

Teaching Approaches

The program employs a variety of teaching methodologies to address the needs and learning styles of students. Pictures, flash cards and posters are utilized for students with a visual learning style. Chants, songs, and rhymes with musical instruments, clapping, or body movements are especially effective for students with a kinesthetic or musical inclination. Emphasis on the analytic nature of the language is used to appeal to students with strong logical-mathematical intelligence. These various methods are designed to maximize the learning outcome of students with different strengths.