Welcome to the first grade classroom!
The atmosphere is warm and nurturing. We seek to fully involve our children in their studies by appealing to every one of their developing senses. All of our resources – from hands-on group activities to video features to music to the large world floor-map in our classroom to the students own artwork – serve to engage our students’ minds and apply our lessons to their lives.
The three prime emphases of our classroom are growing in faith and knowledge of God’s Word, becoming an active reader, and getting a solid mathematic foundation. Each day begins with God’s Word in devotions and Bible stories. The stories are reviewed, reinforced and applied through memory
work, little plays, and flannel board, prayers, work sheets and art work. Our reading program is phonics based with accompanying basal readers. Leveled readers are also available for students who are struggling or need more than the basal readers offer. Our Saxon math program offers daily math meetings, facts with songs and flash cards, hands on with money, and other manipulatives.
While Christ Light, reading and math are the main emphases, science, social studies, English, spelling and penmanship are by no means forgotten. In English we learn the parts of speech with song and actions and correct daily strip cards. In social studies we cover aspects of government, history, geography, economics and culture. Our young scientists love making model habitats and clay bugs!
We recognize that students today must become technologically adept at an early age. Our students use computers several times a week to take book report tests on accelerated reader books found in our school’s library. They also make use of educational sights on the internet during computer class. Our school subscribes to United Streaming, an excellent educational site for short movies that reinforce science and social studies lessons.
We believe education should not be limited to the classroom. We take several field trips a year. We practice for plays. We raise money for people less fortunate than we through a diabetes walk and Jump Rope for Heart. Please feel free to visit our classroom at any time!
The first grade is taught by two teachers.
The morning teacher is Sue Bivens. She is the mother of six and grandmother of ten, and earned her degree at Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. She has taught at Calvary for twelve years, at times teaching in every classroom from grades 1-4. Her emphasis in the classroom and focus in her continuing education is language arts.
Jean Westendorf is the mother of eight and grandmother of thirteen. Graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College (New Ulm, MN) she taught seventh grade and departmentalized music at St. Johns Lutheran School in Oak Creek and has taught at Calvary for the last five years. Last year, she took two courses called Understanding Math and How the Brain Works.
