First Grade

Objectives and Goals

SPIRITUAL LIFE

Northshore Christian Academy trains students spiritually, academically, and personally. Northshore integrates faith and learning as we educate the whole child to successfully develop their God-given gifts and talents.

Bible

Students participate in a multi-sensory, activity-based Bible curriculum that allows each student to develop their own faith in Christ. Children study the Bible and participate in prayer, worship, and service to others.

Bible Memorization

Weekly Bible memorization. Verses apply to our Bible stories for that week.

Chapel

Students will be taught Biblical concepts, stories and memorize Bible verses that teach them godly character qualities and Biblical facts. They will practice applying these qualities in their daily life including opportunities for serving others. This will allow students to develop their own relationship with the Lord through daily prayer and worship.

First Grade Teachers

At Northshore Christian Academy in the 1st Grade Department, our students are blessed with incredible educators who have the high distinction of: over 52 years of experience teaching, and are ACSI accredited and have Washington State Teaching Certificates.  Our teachers feel called to be exemplary educators and come from diverse and prominent teaching backgrounds that equip them with the tools necessary to meet the needs of each of our students.

As a Christian school, located in Everett, WA, we have the pleasure of partnering with families, local schools and businesses to give our students a well-rounded education.  Our program focuses not only on the exemplary academics and their spiritual development of each student, but also their social and emotional development.  Our program diligently works to support each of our students in their scholarly and personally endeavors as it helps shape and mold them into thriving members of our community.

Through collaborative team work, facilitated by our Learner Centered Collaboration (LCC), our teachers are able to create an environment of dynamically different teaching styles and strategically consistent curriculum. This allows our teachers to successfully impact our students by supporting all different learning styles. Northshore’s teamwork approach in evaluating data, such as our standardized testing, helps our program continue to be at the forefront of producing students ready to lead the world.

ACADEMIC LIFE

Reading

Students learn to master phonic sounds and work toward becoming independent readers of literature and information text of appropriate complexity for grade level. Students start with phonics based readers and progress into simple chapter books. Different genres are used to teach comprehension, sequencing, prediction, interpretation, reflection, and connection. Students develop the ability to read with fluency and expression in their level of books. Students increase comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and vocabulary through the use of specific strategies. Some of these strategies which are emphasized in CAFÉ and Daily 5 include: read to self, work on writing, listening to reading, word work, and reading with someone.

Writing/Handwriting

Students learn the elements of written communication so they begin to express themselves in an effective manner. Content includes complete sentences, using proper capitalization and punctuation (conventions). Students learn to select an appropriate, interesting idea to carry through a story that they will write (ideas). Students learn to write opinion pieces, informational texts, and narrative texts, with a beginning, middle, and end (organization).

Handwriting: Students develop proper handwriting skills and incorporate Scripture verses. To validate proper handwriting skills students are taught correct size, slant, shape, spacing, position and design of each letter for both the lower and upper case.

Language and Phonics

Every day, 90 minutes are devoted to literacy instruction. Students learn the primary rules and generalizations of phonics, language, and spelling and understand that there are exceptions to many rules. Students will apply specific rules in their writing and special phonic sounds. Students also use their special phonic sounds in context and learn sight words that are high frequency in their writing and reading materials.

Spelling

Emphasis is on learning and applying spelling rules, coupled with a strong foundational phonics program, word lists, and application in writing at school and at home. There are weekly dictated spelling tests.

Math

Students participate in a hands-on success oriented Math Expressions curriculum that emphasizes manipulatives and mental math. The curriculum uses a multi-sensory approach to teaching in a cooperative setting. 55 minute daily lessons enable all children to develop a solid foundation in math concepts and math vocabulary which prepares them for advanced math opportunities.

Social Studies

Students learn about the four main facets of history: social, political, economic and religious. By learning about these important historical areas in a biblical worldview, students expand their awareness of the world around them.

Science

Science units are taught utilizing FOSS multi-sensory lessons on Space, Balance and Motion, Insects, Rocks, and Plants. Students utilize the scientific process skills such as observe, classify, predict, and infer to communicate ideas about science by speaking and/or writing. Students have opportunities for integrating reading, art, language arts, math, social studies, and Bible into the science lesson.