St. Dominic Elementary School

When students reach the first grade, they take their first major step toward independence: they sit by them­selves at desks for the first time and learn basic organizational skills that will be key to their succcess in the grades that follow.

First grade focuses strongly on reading skills. The class is split between two teachers to ensure individual­ized reading instruction. Students spend an hour and 20 minutes at the beginning of every day on read­ing skills, including new stories each week, vocabulary and grammar skills and handwriting practice. The class reunites for the rest of the day. In math, first graders learn about counting coins, telling time, addition, subtraction and basic word problems. Students increase their spelling skills by mastering letters and letter combinations and recognizing sight words. Students learn good citizenship and U.S. history in social stud­ies for half of the year, with the other half focusing on science, from health and nutrition to animal and plant life to the sun, moon, stars and planets. Religious studies focus on introducing students to the Bible, Holy Trinity and the Sacraments.

First graders are required to take the Cognitive Abilities Test (COGAT), a national standardized exam that tests basic logic and reasoning skills and can help educators expand the educational opportunities of indi­vidual students.