To be certain individual needs are being met, particularly for higher and lower readers, Cooper first graders carry with them nightly Phoenix Reading, a solidly phonetic reading program once published by McGraw-Hill. Phoenix Readers take students from pre reading through the end of third grade, and are particularly useful as reading homework. Early levels include action picture sequences. These are especially helpful to our second language learners, who comprise an increasing segment of our school population. The first grade classroom has a wide variety of primary grade literature, from new to classic.
Students check out a different picture story book daily.
From large charts, they memorize numerous songs and poems throughout the year. These are integrated with various seasonal and holiday studies. First graders enjoy frequent writing in journals. Journals change with the students' ability to write smaller words and longer sentences. They begin with four lines in the fall, then move to six, and finally eight lines.