Ava: First Grade

For the 2012-2013 school year, Ava used the following materials:

Math

• Singapore Primary Mathematics Standards Edition 1A/B - Over the past twenty years, the Primary Mathematics series has been identified with excellence and achievement in Singapore's primary school mathematics curriculum, culminating in Singapore students' success in the 1995, 1999, and 2003 TIMSS studies. The Standards Edition is an adaptation of this series to meet the Mathematics Contents Standards for California Public Schools. (Scope and Sequence)

Language Arts

• First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Level 1 - This is a scripted program which uses techniques such as narration, copying and dictation, memorization, and picture study to cover parts of speech, along with foundational rules of punctuation and usage.

• Writing With Ease Level 1 - WWE pairs nicely with its sister curriculum, FLL, and provides dictation assignments, comprehension questions, and reading passages from works such as Peter Rabbit, Little House on the Prairie, and The Wind in the Willows.

• All About Spelling Level 2 - AAS is a mastery based, multisensory program that combines the use of letter tiles, flash cards, word banks, spelling lists, and dictation exercises to introduce phonograms, suffixes, contractions, and other spelling rules.

• Handwriting Without Tears: My Printing Book (1st Grade) - Another multisensory series that covers letter, word, and sentence skills, as well as writing conventions such as paragraph formation and a standard format for friendly letters.

• Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading - Simple, direct, scripted, phonics-based guide to teaching reading.

History

• History Odyssey: Ancients (Level 1) - This series presents history chronologically, and includes reading and writing assignments, map work, and numerous hands-on activities.  This year's focus of study was on ancient civilizations, ranging from 6000 BCE to AD 500.  (Sample)

• Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia Of World History - Main reference spine for History Odyssey

• The Story of the World, Vol. 1 (Ancient Times) - Main reading reference for History Odyssey

Science

• REAL Science Odyssey: Life (Level 1) - Topics include the human body, animal kingdom, and plant kingdom, all heavily reinforced with hands-on labs and activities.  (Sample)

Art and Music

• Harmony Fine Arts: Overview Year - This year's Fine Arts study covers a sampling of artists and composers to build interest and enthusiasm for art and music appreciation, offering a variety of activities including viewing artwork, listening to music, reading about artists and composers, completing notebook pages, and art projects.

Physical Education

• Taekwondo - Ava finished this school year with a rank of Decisive 7th Gup Yellow Belt with Green Stripe.  (White to Black Belt Requirements)