A Parent’s Guide to 1st Grade
A Parent’s Guide to 1st Grade is designed to introduce parents to the Cherry Creek College and
Career Framework, which is unique to Cherry Creek Schools. It begins in kindergarten and continues
through 12th grade, to ensure that students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to be
successful in college and careers.
This guide will also help parents understand the concepts and skills that are the focus of instruction in the
1st Grade classroom as well as the academic and thinking skills that will lead to college and career
readiness and success. However, this guide may not fully represent each school’s comprehensive
curriculum and units of instructional study, so parents are always encouraged to contact their school if
they have questions.
Finally, this guide also offers suggestions about how parents can support their child’s learning at home.
Parental involvement is one of the most critical factors in a child’s academic success.
The Cherry Creek School District prides itself on an outstanding educational system where highly
effective classroom teachers, using the rich and rigorous Cherry Creek Curriculum and differentiated
instruction, help all students meet the Colorado Academic Standards. Our students’ progress is
measured by aligned assessments, including classroom observation, district assessments and state and
national assessments, which confirm that our students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need
to be successful in college and careers.
The Cherry Creek College and Career Framework for all grade levels consists of:
• Standards - Learning goals that apply to all students
• Curriculum - Topics, materials, courses, and sequencing of the learning goals
• Differentiated Instruction – Instruction tailored to meet each student’s individual learning needs
• Aligned Assessments – which provide feedback teachers can act on to improve instruction and
learning
• Accountability – The Cherry Creek School District follows a model of continuous improvement
The Cherry Creek School District Progress Report is aligned with the grade level standards, curriculum,
instruction, and assessments. The Progress Report is designed to provide feedback to students and
parents about how well students are meeting or exceeding academic standards at their grade level.
Reading
Comprehension and Foundational Skills
What your child will learn:
First grade students work to develop autonomy in reading skills. They read both
independently and with assistance, and they are exposed to a wide range of texts.
First grade students continue to practice and refine foundational reading skills (e.g.
matching letters and word segments to sounds). As they progress through the first
grade, students continue to read more challenging texts. They think, discuss, and
write about what they read. Students are exposed to both literature and informational
texts. First grade students make predictions about texts, retell/summarize stories
including important details, and ask and answer questions about what they read.
They use illustrations and other text features to describe key ideas. First grade
students may also compare and contrast various texts as they learn from and enjoy
what they read.
What you can do at home:
Read, read, read every day! Reading is at home is critical in the development of
early literacy skills. There is a significant body of research that indicates reading is
one of the most important things a parent can do to help their child develop language
acquisition and a love of learning. When you are reading with your child, discuss the
book, the characters, and the important details. Make predictions as you read, and
create different endings to stories. Ask your child questions about the text, and have
them retell the story to you. Talk about the book and the words in it. Identify words
that your child may already know, and pick out new and unfamiliar words to expand
vocabulary.
Visit your local public library or the library at your child’s school. Book clubs are also
a great way to support your child’s reading development.
Communication
Writing and Language Skills
What your child will learn:
First grade students develop greater independence in writing skills, and they begin to
expand sentence structures. Expanded sentence structures may include compound
statements, commands, exclamations, and questions, and students begin to use a
variety of punctuation marks in conjunction with the various sentence types. As young
learners practice communication skills, they continue to learn and apply the rules of
written language and strengthen and expand their vocabulary. First grade students
refine their organization of ideas by naming a topic, providing some facts about that
topic, and adding closure to their written work. They also begin sequencing their
written work with appropriate sequence vocabulary (e.g. first, next, last, etc.). First
grade students may participate in shared research and writing projects with leveled
teacher support.
What you can do at home:
Encourage your child to write, and provide fun opportunities for your child to write at
home. You may also promote writing by modeling “real world” writing opportunities
(e.g. thank you notes, grocery lists). Use these opportunities to write together.
Continue working to expand your child’s vocabulary whether you select a “word of the
day” or look for objects all beginning with the same letter. There are many activities
that can be done to support vocabulary development. Ask your child’s teacher about
activities you can provide at home.
Engaging in conversations with your child and asking them questions can be a great
way to help bolster language development. Talk to them about their school day.
Reflect on what you did as a family over the weekend. Participating in conversation
with your child will enhance verbal communication skills, and these can bolster
written communication development.
Mathematics
Content
Thinking Processes
What your child will learn:
What your child will learn:
First grade students continue to build on the
math skills they began developing in
kindergarten and gain new skills, as well. They
develop an increased understanding of addition
and subtraction relationships from a number of
20 or less and develop speed and accuracy with
this foundational skill. They also solve word and
story problems using this skill.
First grade students develop an understanding
of whole number relationships as well as place
values, including grouping in tens and ones and
understand the concept of one and two digit
numbers.
They learn about linear measurement and
measuring lengths, and they make composite
shapes by joining and dividing specific shapes.
The Standards for Mathematical Practice help to
identify mathematical skills that educators at all
levels work to produce in their students. These
practices include, but are not limited to:
● Make sense of problems and persevere in
solving them.
● Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
● Construct viable arguments and critique
the reasoning of others.
● Model with mathematics.
● Use appropriate tools strategically.
● Attend to precision.
● Look for and make use of structure.
● Look for and express regularity in
repeated reasoning.
STEM Education is also an integral component of a Cherry Creek Education. STEM stands for
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. To learn more about STEM, please visit our
website:
http://www.cherrycreekschools.org/STEM/Pages/default.aspx
What you can do at home:
Make math fun and meaningful for your child by looking for real world math problems in your daily
life. Use everyday objects for counting, sorting, estimating, and creating story problems. Ask
questions that require mathematical thinking (e.g. counting, greater/less than, basic addition and
subtraction problems). Encourage your child to “keep trying” even when a problem may be
challenging, talk to them about how they find an answer to a problem, and praise them for effort,
resiliency, and perseverance even if they aren’t getting the “right” answer.
Integrated Content
Science
What your child will learn:
Social Studies
What your child will learn:
Cherry Creek Schools uses FOSS or Full Option Twenty-first century skills are embedded into
Science System. There are three FOSS units of social studies units of study. This content area
study in first grade.
includes civics, economics, geography, and
history.
Physical Science - Solids and Liquids
First grade students' awareness of the physical As first grade students study civics they
world will be heightened. Students will study the recognize that groups have leaders and team
three fundamental states of matter: solid, liquid, members, and that each contribute an important
and gas.
role to the group as a whole.
Earth Science - Pebbles, Sand and Silt
Investigations provide experiences that heighten
students' awareness of rocks as earth materials
and natural resources. They will come to know
rocks by many names and in a variety of sizes.
Pebbles and sand are the same material—just
different sizes.
Life Science - Insects and Plants
First grade students come to know the life
sequences of a number of insects. Students
observe structures and behaviors, discuss their
findings, and record observations over time.
Students see the life cycle of insects unfold and
compare the stages of metamorphosis exhibited
by each species. Students will also grow a plant
from seeds and observe the life cycle to produce
new seeds. Students relate these experiences to
information they gather from reading about life
cycles of other plants and animals.
First grade students study notable people,
places, holidays, and patriotic symbols.
They are exposed to Personal Financial Literacy
curriculum as they Identify short-term financial
goals.
They learn that people work at different types of
jobs and in different types of organizations in
order to produce goods and services.
In geography, first graders use maps and globes
to represent places, and they learn that people
in different groups and communities interact with
one another.
First grade students study history by describing
patterns and the chronological order of events of
the recent past.
They also learn to describe family and cultural
traditions of the United States.
What you can do at home:
What you can do at home:
Help your child to develop a curiosity about living
things that make up his or her world. Observe
interactions among living things. Collect and sort
objects, identifying similarities and differences.
Continue expanding vocabulary by providing
opportunities through play and experiences.
Talk to your child about the importance of rules
at home and in the community. Identify symbols
of the United States of America such as the flag
as they are observed in your daily family life, and
expose your child to maps of various kinds. Look
for opportunities to share, discuss and
experience different cultures that are both similar
and different from your own.
Art
What your child will learn:
Elementary art education encompasses several key components. Elementary students observe and
comprehend various types of art. In art classes, students invent, create, and critique works of art,
and they relate, connect, and transfer the skills that they learn into other content areas.
In first grade, students learn that works of art can express feelings and represents the stories of
people, places, and things. First grade students create and respond to their own art and the art of
others. They create art to communicate ideas, feelings, or emotions, and utilize the visual arts to
relate various experiences.
What you can do at home:
Art activities can be essential for fine motor development. Encourage drawing and ask questions
about your child’s artwork. Pay attention and support your child’s artistic interests. Design a space for
creativity and encourage art activities and imaginative play. Visit local art museums and galleries
during family outings.
Music
What your child will learn:
Elementary students utilize musical skills through a variety of means including singing, playing
various instruments, and purposeful movement. They create and perform music, and they also learn
about appropriate audience participation. Other grade level content skills (e.g. literacy, math, social
studies) are applied, practiced, and reinforced in music education.
In first grade, students participate in musical performance either in groups or independently. They
identify and perform basic rhythmic and melodic patterns and musical phrases. First grade students
learn about tempo, musical tone, and basic rhythmic and melodic patterns. They identify music as an
integral part of everyday life.
What you can do at home:
Expand and support the musical experiences and background knowledge of your child by exposing
them to a wide variety of musical genres. Attend the opera, symphony, or other musical events.
Listen to a variety of types of music in your home or even in the car. Urge your child to explain and
discuss what they like and dislike about various types of music. Encourage and foster your child’s
interest in both vocal and instrumental music!
Physical & Health Education
What your child will learn:
Although Physical Education and Health Education are two separate subjects in the Cherry Creek
School District, they compliment and reinforce one another. While P.E. includes movement patterns,
motor skills, and physical activities, both P.E. and Health teach students skills to increase safe
physical, emotional, and social behaviors, and both disciplines emphasize prevention and risk
management for students’ behaviors both in and out of the school community.
First grade students continue to understand how daily activities and healthy behaviors promote
overall personal health and safety. They demonstrate basic loco-motor and non-loco-motor skills,
manipulative skills, and rhythmic/cross-lateral movements (e.g. jumping rope, simple dances,
dibbling/throwing a ball, etc.). They work independently and with others in various physical and social
activities. First grade students begin to establish movement vocabulary (e.g. jog vs. run vs. gallop).
What you can do at home:
Strong and healthy children become strong and healthy learners! Many studies have shown a strong
correlation between physical activity and student achievement. At home, provide opportunities for
physical activities (e.g. after school sports and classes). Expose your child to a wide variety of
physical activities, and keep in mind that this may also include limiting television and or computer
screen time. Offer healthy snacks and plan healthy meals. Be a role model for your child, and
engage in healthy activities together. Whether you are preparing healthy meals or enjoying a walk
around the block, make an effort to integrate wellness into your family’s daily practices.
Talking to your child’s teacher:
YOU are your child’s first teacher, and the growth and learning made during the school year doesn’t
simply end in the classroom. Parents and teachers must work together for the success of each
student. Building a relationship and communicating with your child’s teacher are important for a
successful school year. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your child’s teacher early in the school year
to begin establishing this relationship.
Learn about the academic standards that your child will be learning throughout the school year, and
discover ways that you can support your child at home. By beginning with a solid understanding of
what your child will be expected to know by the end of the school year, you’ll have knowledge of the
end goal. It is the first step in creating a road map for the school year.
Find out some details regarding what specific classroom activities take place. Discuss ways that
you may volunteer your own time and talents to support these classroom activities and/or units of
study. Elementary school is a critical time to get involved! The earlier in a child’s education that
parent involvement begins, the greater the result. Whether volunteering in the classroom or being
involved as a parent by helping your child at home, parental involvement in a child’s education is
significant.
Children in first grade are assessed throughout the year. Teachers monitor and evaluate student
achievement toward standards as well as academic growth on a regular basis. You are
encouraged to touch base with your child’s teacher beyond parent/teacher conferences. As the
school year progresses, ask to see samples of your child’s work to determine with the teacher if
your child is progressing toward standards and academic expectations. Continually inquire about
how you can best help them at home, and ask for recommendations and resources to use at home.
Discuss with the teacher what areas of strengths your child exhibits in the classroom and what may
be noted areas for growth.
Research shows that parent communication and involvement are essential pieces to benefiting
children in school. We ask that you partner with us in creating an optimal learning experience for
your first grade student in the Cherry Creek School District.
OUR DISTRICT
OUR MISSION
“To inspire every student to think, to learn, to
achieve, and to care”
Board of Education Members
District Leadership Team
Karen Fisher
Claudine McDonald
Jim O’Brien
Randy Perlis
Dave Willman
Dr. Harry Bull - Superintendent
Guy Bellville
Sheila Graham
Brooke Gregory
Sonja McKenzie
Dr. Scott Siegfried
Dr. Judy Skupa