Teachers meet with parents prior to a child's placement. The pre-first program was implemented in the Marion School District thirteen years ago with one section. Teachers stress beginning consonant sounds, vowel sounds, number skills, and language development. The curriculum is not as structured, and the pace is different from a regular first grade classroom. This class is also an intervention for the high risk children who don't have the necessary first grade skills.
First grade emphasizes reading and writing skills.
Teachers use Distar Reading in the classroom to teach phonics and phonemic awareness. The basal reading adoption is Harcourt, Brace and Javonovich, and the program is supplemented with Big Books, Modern Curriculum Press' Phonics workbooks, and journal writing. This year we have added the Reading Recovery program. Selected students spend part of the year receiving special instruction from a certified reading teacher. Their Way, a hands-on approach which utilizes many manipulatives in teaching math skills.