First Grade Curriculum

Never plan another lesson again! The First Grade Curriculum Manual has every day already planned; just open it up and teach from the correlating books in the plan! Your lessons will revolve around the following areas of study:

• Opening Recitation
• Spelling
• Reading
• Math
• Copybook/Memory
• Cursive
• Literature & Enrichment

Phonics Guide for Reading & Spelling: First Grade Sample

The First Grade Phonics Guide for Reading & Spelling is a daily road map for you, the teacher, to use when teaching your early learner the phonics of both reading and spelling.

The Primary Phonics Readers Book 5 set includes ten books, each with illustrations. This set includes stories with vowel digraphs like oo and vowel diphthongs like ow.

The Primary Phonics Readers Book 6 set includes 10 books with black-and-white illustrations, with a focus on soft c, soft g, and more.

From the publisher:

"Meet Little Bear, a friend to millions of children. And meet Mother Bear, who is there whenever Little Bear needs her. When it is cold and snowy outside, she finds just the right outfit for Little Bear to play in. When he goes to the moon, she has a hot lunch waiting for him on his return. And, of course, she never forgets his birthday.

This classic from Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak was written in 1957 and remains as beloved today as it was then. An ALA Notable Children's Book, this Level One I Can Read is full of warm and lovingly playful stories that are perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences."

From the publisher:

"Like all children, Little Bear loves to visit his grandparents. There is always so much to do, so much to see, and so much to eat. His grandfather is never too tired to play (that is, almost never) and his grandmother tells him stories about Mother Bear when she was a little cub. Also, like all grandparents, the elder bears indulge their grandson more than his parents do. And Little Bear enjoys that!"

From the publisher:

"This story about a peddler and a band of mischievous monkeys is filled with warmth, humor, and simplicity, and teaches children about problem and resolution. Children will delight in following the peddler’s efforts to outwit the monkeys and will ask to read it again and again. Caps for Sale is an excellent easy-to-read book that includes repetition, patterns, and colors, perfect for early readers."

Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! Sal and her mother are picking blueberries to can for the winter. But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mama bear preparing for her own long winter. Meanwhile, Sal's mother is being followed by a small bear with a big appetite for berries! Will each mother go home with the right little one?

From the publisher:

"Mrs. Mallard was sure that the pond in the Boston Public Gardens would be a perfect place for her and her eight ducklings to live. The problem was how to get them there through the busy streets of Boston. But with a little help from the Boston police, Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack arrive safely at their new home.

This brilliantly illustrated, amusingly observed tale of Mallards on the move has won the hearts of generations of readers. Awarded the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children in 1941, it has since become a favorite of millions. This classic tale of the famous Mallard ducks of Boston is available for the first time in a full-sized paperback edition."

Student Sample

After completing our Kindergarten phonics program, first graders are prepared to plunge right into real books, such as the five little classics in the StoryTime Treasures set. Real books, as opposed to controlled vocabulary readers, capture the imagination of children and motivate them in their reading lessons. Our study guide, StoryTime Treasures, written by Highlands Latin School teachers Mary Lynn Ross and Tessa Tiemann, teaches a variety of language skills in the engaging context of favorite books. Vocabulary, spelling, composition, capitalization, punctuation, and more are included. Your child’s classical education will be off to a superb start with these enduring and timeless classics. And he or she will be well prepared to complete first grade with the next set of classics in More StoryTime Treasures.

You can make this a full-year program in first grade by also completing More StoryTime Treasures.

Billy and Blaze is about a little boy, Billy, and his pony, Blaze, who he receives as a birthday gift in this book. The adventures of Billy and Blaze revolve around proper care of the horse, while teaching a lesson. The author, C. W. Anderson, goes to great lengths to give accurate information.

Fire! Billy and his pony race to warn the countryside in Blaze and the Forest Fire—a classic story about the adventures of a young boy and his horse. The books in this series contain wholesome material for the young reader.

From the publisher:

"Ping is a spirited little duck who lives on the Yangtze River. One night, to avoid a spanking for being the last duck home, Ping stays out all night and explores the world. His funny misadventures will delight young readers today as much as they did in 1933, when this classic tale was first published."

From the publisher:

"In the winter of 1856, a storm delays the lighthouse keeper's return to an island off the coast of Maine, and his daughter Abbie must keep the lights burning by herself."

From the publisher:

"A clever young man tricks an old woman into believing that soup can be made from a stone. As the pot of water boils with the stone in it, he urges her to add more and more ingredients until the soup is a feast 'fit for a king.'"

From the publisher:

"Once upon a time there was a Little House way out in the country. She was a pretty Little House and she was strong and well built." So begins Virginia Lee Burton's classic The Little House, winner of the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1942. The rosy-pink Little House, on a hill surrounded by apple trees, watches the days go by, from the first apple blossoms in the spring through the winter snows. Always faintly aware of the city's distant lights, she starts to notice the city encroaching on her bucolic existence. First a road appears, which brings horseless carriages and then trucks and steamrollers. Before long, more roads, bigger homes, apartment buildings, stores, and garages surround the Little House. Her family moves out and she finds herself alone in the middle of the city, where the artificial lights are so bright that the Little House can no longer see the sun or the moon. She often dreams of "the field of daisies and the apple trees dancing in the moonlight." Finally a woman recognizes her and whisks the Little House back to the country where she belongs. For generations, young readers have been delighted by the whimsical, detailed drawings and happy ending.

From the publisher:

"Barbara Cooney's story of Alice Rumphius, who longed to travel the world, live in a house by the sea, and do something to make the world more beautiful, has a timeless quality that resonates with each new generation. The countless lupines that bloom along the coast of Maine are the legacy of the real Miss Rumphius, the Lupine Lady, who scattered lupine seeds everywhere she went. Miss Rumphius received the American Book Award in the year of publication."

Student Sample

This follow-up to StoryTime Treasures will continue to increase your child’s vocabulary, reading comprehension, and grammar skills through the study of seven more classic readers.

The StoryTime and More StoryTime Treasures Answer Key gives you all the answers to the questions, vocabulary, etc., found in StoryTime Treasures and More StoryTime Treasures, so you have the tools you need to guide your student through this first grade literature program!

StoryTime and More StoryTime Teacher Sample

The StoryTime & More StoryTime Treasures Answer Key gives you all the answers to the questions, vocabulary, etc., found in StoryTime Treasures and More StoryTime Treasures, so you have the tools you need to guide your student through this first grade literature program!

From the publisher:

"Long ago, a little girl named Laura Ingalls lived in a little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters, Mary and Carrie, and their good old bulldog, Jack. Winter was just around the corner, and Laura worked hard to help make the little house ready for the cold days ahead. Soon there was frost on the windows and snow on the ground, but Laura and her folks were warm and cozy in their snug little house in the Big Woods.

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers. Now for the first time, the youngest readers can share her adventures in these very special picture books adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved storybooks. Renée Graef's warm paintings, inspired by Garth Williams' classic Little House illustrations, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life."

From the publisher:

"The Little House books tell the story of a little pioneer girl and her family as they traveled by covered wagon across the Midwest. Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic books, illustrated with Garth Williams' timeless artwork, have been cherished by millions of readers ever since they were first published over sixty years ago.

This My First Little House Book introduces Almanzo Wilder, the young boy from Farmer Boy who would one day marry Laura Ingalls. In Winter on the Farm, Almanzo goes through his afternoon barn chores, and then sits down to eat a hearty farm supper with his family. In this first book about Almanzo, young readers are able to share in the warmth and joy of another Little House family and celebrate new Little House adventures. Winter on the Farm is the first in an ongoing series about Laura’s beloved farmer boy."

The Rod & Staff Grade 1 Math Student Book (Part 1) uses a mastery approach when teaching mathematics. This means that the student will spend a significant amount of time on one particular skill, such as addition or subtraction, in order to master said skill before moving on.

The Rod & Staff Grade 1 Math Student Book (Part 2) continues with Lessons 86-170. Like the Rod & Staff Grade 1 Math Student Book (Part 1), this book continues the mastery approach method when teaching mathematics.

From the publisher: "A small tablet of 72 speed drills provides timed practice of addition and subtraction facts ...."

New American Cursive 1 Sample

New American Cursive is an easy-to-follow resource for teaching beginning cursive. It presents simplified letter forms, using multi-sensory methods to aid in the learning of motor skills necessary to write well. Developed by Iris Hatfield, with over 35 years of experience in the handwriting field, the book improves the process of teaching handwriting and allows students to start at a younger age.

New American Cursive 1:

• Designed with the first grader in mind
• Unnecessary strokes are eliminated; NAC alphabet has 26 fewer strokes than the top three most common cursive programs.
• Letter forms are simplified but retain the classic form for legibility.
• NAC natural right slant is easier for beginners and left-handers. If the slant is too far right, it can be difficult for lefties. Writing absolutely vertically is tiring and can slow down the writing.
• NAC program was created to be simple, clear, and effective. It focuses on accuracy and increasing legibility.
• A teaching guide is included. It takes students only twenty minutes of their day to practice in their NAC book.

Copybook II Sample

Our primary copybooks teach penmanship, basic grammar, spelling, literature, accuracy, attention to detail, and memory—all through the simple skill of copying. We have selected Scripture from the King James Bible (chosen for its poetic verse) and classic children’s poems, such as those by Robert Louis Stevenson, which describe the world in charming detail. The clean, facing pages provide plenty of space for your neophyte to draw and color the glorious passages provided. In years to come, you will cherish these journals of your child’s work.

The series includes three books, each with more than thirty-five passages, for beginning writers in K-2nd grade. Each starts with slightly larger margins and decreases gradually over the three-year series. Students begin tracing, then move to copying directly under modeled words. Eventually students are asked to copy passages from the left page onto lines on the right page. Emphasizing care and accuracy, students learn how to be patient and take pleasure in getting it right.

Composition & Sketchbook II Sample

Our Composition & Sketchbooks allow each student to write and illustrate compositions. These books are a great resource for all subjects and become a journal of your child's work for each year.

Composition & Sketchbook II: 1/2" Ruled for 1st-2nd Grade Students - This font is also ruled with a middle dashed line, but 2-page spreads with an entire page for a drawing on the left-hand side and a page of ruled lines on the right give first and second grade students room for longer compositions.

We created this chart upon the request of our homeschool customers. This poster-sized chart (22" x 34") has the alphabet listed in manuscript and cursive. If you don't have the wall space for our Alphabet Wall Charts, this poster is the perfect resource for your students.

This tablet is ruled on both sides with a dotted center line. Each tablet contains 100 sheets. Perfect for practicing penmanship.

Cursive Practice Sheets Sample

One question we hear repeatedly is how to get more worksheets to practice New American Cursive writing. We try to put extra sheets in our books, but it never seems to be enough. Our new Cursive Practice Sheets book includes pages for practicing each cursive letter, Scripture copywork, and blank practice sheets. Since the most important objective of the New American Cursive program is mastery, the more your student is able to practice, the better!

First Grade Enrichment Sample

The First Grade Enrichment Guide is organized by week, matching our Classical Core Curriculum First Grade program. The week-by-week plan is organized for you the teacher to incorporate activities to bring books alive for your student!