Class size in first grade has been reduced to less than twenty with the addition of new personnel. Part-time positions include a resource teacher, a speech pathologist, a nurse, a librarian, and a music teacher. Phelix has two pre-first classes. 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.