BELLE VERNON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

GENERAL SYLLABUS OUTLINE

**This syllabus is subject to change**

Course Name:

English

Grade:

1.)

Course Description:

**This syllabus may be amended or altered, depending upon individual needs of teacher, time constraints,

and at individual teacher's discretion.**

Children will exposed to a variety of literature and will acquire fundamental language arts skills which

make them effective readers, writers, speakers, and listeners. Children will participate in 12 major

thematic units. Throughout each theme, the children actively engage with quality literature built around a

central theme. Children will interact with the literature and acquire fundamental skills which will provide

them with a solid foundation of language arts skills.

2.)

Learning Standards:

1.4

Types of Writing (narrative, informational, persuasive)

1.5

Quality of Writing

1.6

Speaking and Listening (including discussion and presentation)

1.7

Characteristics and Functions of the English Language

1.8

Research

3.)

Student Objectives:

1.4.3 Types of Writing

Write narrative pieces (e.g., stories, poems, [and] plays).

Write informal pieces (e.g., descriptions, letters, reports, [and] instructions)[,] using

illustrations when relevant.

Write an opinion and support it with facts.

1.5.3 Quality of Writing

Write with a sharp, distinct focus identifying topic, task, and audience.

Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.

Write with controlled and/or subtle organization.

Write with an awareness of the stylistic aspects of composition.

Revise writing to improve detail and order by identifying missing information and determining

[if] whether ideas follow logically.

Edit writing using the conventions of language.

Present and/or defend written work for publication when appropriate.

1.6.3 Speaking and Listening

Listen to others.

Listen to a selection of literature (fiction and/or nonfiction).

Speak using skills appropriate to formal speech situations.

Contribute to discussions.

Participate in small and large group discussions and presentations.

Use media for learning purposes.

1.7.3 Characteristics and Functions of the English Language

Identify words from other languages that are commonly used in English words.

Identify variations in the dialogues of literary characters and relate them to differences in

occupation or geographical location.

1.8.3 Research

Select a topic for research.

Locate information using appropriate sources and strategies.

Organize and present the main ideas from [the] research.

4.)

Course Text:

v Houghton Mifflin, Invitations to Literacy, Level K

5.)

Major Units or Themes: (Include the following)

v All About Me

During this theme children will:

Discover that story characters are like them in many ways

Make predictions and evaluate selections

Retell or summarize each selection

Learn about parts of the body

Apply comprehension skills: Noting details, sequence, categorize/classify

Recognize letter names

Recognize rhymes

v Color is Eve

During this theme children will:

Read literature about colors and learn color names

Monitor and evaluate their reading

Retell or summarize each selection

Apply comprehension skills: Making predictions, identifying story structure,

(beginning, middle, end) drawing conclusions

Apply return sweep

Identify rhymes

Apply directionality

v Just for Fun

During this theme children will:

Recognize ways that stories are fun and interesting

Make predictions and inferences about story characters and events

Retell or summarize each selection

Apply comprehension skills: Noting details, sequence, cause and effect

Produce rhymes

v In the Barn

During this theme children will:

Explore the barnyard setting, including barnyard animals and the sounds they make

Monitor how well they understand their reading and ask themselves questions to check

understanding

Evaluate and retell or summarize each selection

Apply comprehension skills: Drawing conclusions, making predictions, categorize/

classify

Identify alliterative and words beginning with the sounds "h" and "d"

Recognize high-frequency words the and I

Recognize words with the phonogram -at

Identify word boundaries

v Nighttime

During this theme children will:

Explore nighttime and going to bed through story characters' experiences

Make predictions and inferences about story characters and events

Retell or summarize and evaluate each selection

Apply comprehension skills: Story structure (beginning, middle, end) fantasy/realism,

noting details

Produce alliterative and identify words beginning with the sounds for "g" and "h"

Recognize the phonogram -ug

Recognize the high-frequency words have, go, and a

Apply and left and right directionality

v Let's be Fri

During this theme children will:

Recognize that family and friends help one another and share together

Retell or summarize and evaluate each selection

Apply comprehension skills: Drawing conclusions, sequence, noting details

Recognize the first sound in a spoken word and identify words beginning with the

sounds "g" and "p"

Recognize words with the phonogram -ig

Recognize the high-frequency words in and put

Apply left-to-right directionality

v Playful Pet

During this theme children will:

Share in the joys of having real or imaginary pets

Monitor their reading and ask themselves questions

Retell or summarize each selection

Apply comprehension skills: Compare/contrast, cause/effect, sequence

Recognize the last sounds of spoken and the end of a written work

Recognize words beginning with "k" and "c" and words containing with the phonogram- it

Recognize the high-frequency words "it" and "did"

v I Can do Any

During this theme children will:

Recognize children's special talents and interests, including their own

Make predictions and inferences; evaluate overall selection

Retell or summarize each selection

Apply comprehension skills: Story structure

Scan text for high-frequency words and beginning sounds, recognize high-frequency

words "like" and "and"

Identify first sound of spoken word

Recognize words beginning with the sounds for "I" and "t" and words with the '

phonogram -and

v Here Come th

During this theme children will:

Explore the world of bears: real, imaginary, and teddy bears

Retell or summarize and evaluate each selection

Apply comprehension skills: Topic, main idea/details, story structure, fantasy/realism

Identify last sounds of spoken words and words beginning with the sounds for "w" and "n"

Recognize words with the phonogram -ot

Recognize the high-frequency words "we" and "not"

Scan text for ending sounds

v Going Places

During this theme children will:

Learn that there are many types of vehicles and ways to travel

Evaluate and retell or summarize each selection

Apply comprehension skills: Cause and effect, sequence, topic, main idea, and details

Produce the first and last sounds of a word and words beginning with the sounds

for "j" and "r"

Recognize high-frequency words "get" and "can"

Recognize words with the phonogram -et

Recognize punctuation: period, comma, and ellipsis

v Tell Me a S

During this theme children will:

Read traditional tales, including several old favorites

Evaluate and retell or summarize each selection

Distinguish among letter, word, and sentence

Apply comprehension skills: Drawing conclusions, compare/contrast, story structure

(beginning, middle, end)

Blend the first and last sounds of a word and words beginning with the sounds for "y" and "v"

Recognize words with the phonogram -ut

Recognize high-frequency words "you" and "but"

6.)

Teaching Methods:

v Oral and Choral Reading

v Teacher Modeling/Student Modeling

v Teacher-Directed Demonstration

v Guided Practice/Independent Practice

v Cooperative Learning

v Oral Discussion

v Role Playing

7.)

Assessment:

v Informal and Formal Teacher Observation

v Group Unison Responding (Oral)

v Workbook Activities and Related Assignments

v Skill and Integrated Theme Tests

v Journal and Story Writing