 Religion
Texts Used:
- Our Heavenly Father, Faith and Life Book 1, Catholics United for Faith, 2002 (T2301)
- Our Heavenly Father Activity Book, Faith and Life Book 1, Catholics United for Faith, 2002 (T2301A), Optional
- Our Heavenly Father Resource Book, Faith and Life Book 1, Catholics United for Faith, 2002 (T2301B), Optional
- The New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism, Catholic Books Publishing, 1963 (T2231)
Course Description:
First Grade Religion brings the student two things: information and formation. Information is provided to the child in the form of regimented, specific knowledge; and, formation is provided by the development of the external signs of our Faith in the life of the child in the form of: the Sign of the Cross, genuflecting, proper position of kneeling and attendance at Mass, pronunciation of prayers (in both Latin and English), and forms of address for the clergy, hierarchy and professed religious.
Regimented, specific knowledge is provided so that the student may see the gradual development of a love for the Faith that is based on reason and knowledge. Regimented knowledge is also in tune with the ordered, basic knowledge that is inherent in the Catholic Faith.
The student is introduced to the Trinity, with emphasis on the life of Jesus, the plan of salvation, and the child's part in that plan. The student is also introduced to Mary, the angels and saints.
Reading
Texts Used:
- Catholic National Reader, New Primer and Book One (T1861)
- Kolbe Guide to the Catholic National Reader, New Primer and Book One (T1861A)
- Phonogram Flash Cards (T1859)
Course Description:
Reading in First Grade includes a selection of readings appropriate to the student’s level. The texts gradually introduce new vocabulary. The teacher should read to the students, and students should in turn do their share of vocal and silent reading.
Before a child can read, he must memorize the phonograms. When the child has memorized the sounds of twenty-six letters of the alphabet, have him begin reading in the book. Remember that all children are different and learn differently. It is better to go slowly and make sure he has mastered the material than to proceed without him really understanding. The Catholic National Readers are quite challenging, but once a child has learned the phonograms and read the primer, he is ready to read simple children’s books.
In using this course, the student will be introduced to reading as the natural way of learning, learn to identify characters, plots, details, and relationships, and begin to think critically about what has been read.
Phonics
Texts Used:
- Phonics Book A, Modern Curriculum Press, 1995 (T1201)
- Kolbe Academy Answer Key to Phonics Book A, 2009 (T1201B) – optional
- Resource Manual for MCP Phonics Book A, 1995 (T1201A) – optional
Course Description:
First Grade Phonics is directed to the development in the student of the capacity to pronounce, spell and understand differences in words. Topics covered include beginning sounds, rhyming sounds, consonants, long and short vowel sounds, consonant blends, word endings –ed and –ing, and contractions.
MCP Phonics A begins very simply and the child should be able to do it without much difficulty, but do not let the workbook be a replacement for memorizing all seventy of the phonograms. It is strongly suggested that you practice every day in the way suggested in the guide until the student knows all of them without hesitation. Constantly point out the phonograms in new words that are introduced.
English Grammar
Texts Used:
- Ignatius Speaks and Writes: English I (T1010)
- Ignatius Speaks and Writes: English I Teacher Manual (T1010A), Optional
Course Description:
Grade One English brings the student to study kinds of sentences and most of the parts of speech in a sentence. The student is met with the requirement to use simple punctuation, capitalize words and become acquainted with compound words, synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms as well as alphabetizing words and classifying objects. The student is also required to develop and practice composition skills, including writing letters and stories. Everything learned in English should be applied and reinforced in the student’s reading, composition, spelling, and phonics.
Most of the tasks in the Ignatius Speaks and Writes book are self-explanatory, so very little direction is included. Many of the pages have extra written work recommended to help the student retain what was introduced. The best way to teach English is by example and reinforcement of correct usage in the spoken and written word.
Spelling
Texts Used:
- Phonogram Flash Cards (T1859)
- Spelling word lists found in course plans
Course Description:
The first words in the Grade One spelling list come directly from the Catholic National Readers New Primer and Book One. The child is learning to spell the words he is learning to read. Through this course, the student will learn visual and auditory discrimination of words, and achieve the ability to spell and use the given words in complete sentences.
Geography
Texts Used:
- Map Skills, Level B (T5801)
- Map Skills Answer Key for Level B (T5801A) - Optional
Course Description:
First Grade Geography works to apply the geography lessons to the world around the child. Topics covered include finding places and things on a map, recognizing boundaries and landforms on a map, and using a globe to locate land, water, poles, and the equator. Geography does not need to be done every day and can be eliminated if the student is being challenged by the basics in other subjects.
Mathematics
Texts Used:
- MCP Math A, 1994 (T4201)
- MCP Math A Resource Manual (T4201A), Optional
Course Description:
Grade One Math is based on the natural processes of thinking, namely induction and deduction. Inductive thinking arrives at the answer almost immediately because it seems obvious (although it is not always exact). Deductive thinking is a step-by-step process of reasoning leading to a solution. One process is not better than the other, only different from the other.
In the course, students will learn numbers and basic addition and subtraction facts up to 18, 2 and 3-digit place value, money and time, addition of 2-digit numbers, geometry and measurement, and fractions and graphing.
FAMILIES HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR FIRST GRADE SCIENCE
Science (Option 1)
Texts Used:
- Harcourt Science, 2nd Grade* (Harcourt Publishing, 2005), (T4822)
- Harcourt Science, 2nd Grade* Workbook (T4822B) – Optional
*Harcourt Science, 2nd Grade is used in both 1st and 2nd grade
Course Description:
First Grade Science is a basic introduction to the life, earth, and physical sciences. The most important part of teaching science in the early years is helping the student see the wonders of God’s world, and making him unafraid of the subject when he pursues science in more depth later. Children learn more from doing the experiments and investigations alongside the reading of the textbook. Science, like history, does not need to be done every day and can be set aside if the student is being challenged by the basics in other subjects.
The Harcourt Science series has the availability of several online learning tools to anyone who purchases the textbook. The first is provided by the publisher, Harcourt. Another website is provided by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). This website allows you to select the topic you are studying in the book, and will take you to a page of selected website links that can help you to enhance and further develop the topics that your child is studying. The online resources are a wonderful addition to the activities provided within the text itself.
Topics in this course include Life Science: plants, animals, and people; Earth Science: the Earth’s surface, the Earth’s resources, and the Earth’s history; Physical Science: observing and measuring matter, changes in matter
Science (Option 2)
Texts Used:
- Science and Living in God’s World, Level 1, Lepanto Press 1956 (T4801)
- Science and Living in God’s World, Level 1, Answer Key (T4801A) – Optional
- Science Experiments, Kolbe Academy Press, 2000 (T5018) – Optional
Course Description:
Science in First Grade should most importantly help the student see the wonders of God’s world, and make him unafraid of the subject when he gets into serious science in later years. Topics covered include the world, air and weather, animals, plants, and people. Children learn more from doing experiments than they do from the book. It is recommended that you obtain Kolbe’s science experiment book or any other science experiment book to use in conjunction with Science and Living in God’s World. Science does not need to be done every day and can be eliminated if the student is being challenged by the basics in the other subjects.
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