ELA Level 1 (First Grade) Full Year Comprehensive - Students With Disabilities

In my classes, I strive to make learning fun and build on the strengths of the students. Students will progressively learn and develop different skills related to vocabulary, fluency, and reading comprehension. Phonics and phonemic awareness as well as handwriting will be a part of the learning process but not explicitly taught. I have different classes that focus on how to read and how to write.  This course is open to any learner and can be appropriate for older students who are at a kindergarten/first-grade academic level - meaning students may be outside the stated age range. 

The year is divided into three sessions. Session 1 is typically held in the fall (September-November), Session 2 in the winter (December-February), and Session 3 in the spring (March-May). The following details the content for the three sessions. 

Session 1: 
Topic  1: 
How to talk about writing (asking and answering questions)
What are the parts of a book?
What parts of a sentence?
Topic 2:
What do authors do? What do illustrators do?
Topic 3:
What are the different types of text? 
Topic 4:
Journeys ebook: Friendship - main idea, information text, grammar
Journeys Reader's notebook: words with short a, consonants s, n, d, nouns for people/animals, giving details, consonants p, f, nouns for place/things
Topic 5:
How are facts different from opinions?
Topic 6:
Writing an opinion
Topic 7:
Journeys ebook: Weather - understanding characters in realistic fiction, informational text, grammar
Journeys Reader's Notebook: words with short i, consonants r, h, /z/ s, words that show ownership, details, consonants b/g

Session 2:
Topic 1: 
Parts of a sentence - nouns and verbs
Topic 2:
Parts of words - Long and short vowels and consonants
Topic 3: What are the parts of a story?
Journey ebook: School sequence of events, fantasy, informational text, grammar
Journeys Reader's Notebook: Words with short o, consonants l/x, action verbs, using exact nouns, words with s, 
Topic 4:
Journeys ebook: Neighborhoods - text and graphic features, informational text, fable grammar
Journeys Reader's Notebook: words with short e, consonants y/w, adjectives for size, consonants k/v/j, adjectives for shape
Topic 5: 
Journeys ebook: At the Zoo: story structure, fantasy, information text, compare texts, narrative writing
Journeys Reader's Notebook: words with short u, adjectives for color, consonants qu/z, adjectives for number
Topic 6:
Journey ebook: Traditional Stories: understanding characters, fable, fairy tales, informative writing
Journeys Reader's Notebook: double final consonants, ck, short a, what is a sentence, using sense words
Topic 7:
How do I find the main topic?
Journeys ebook: Animal Communication: main idea and details, information text, informative writing, poetry
Journeys Reader's Notebook: blends with r, short i, adjectives, using a chart, commas, planning a poem

Session 3:
Topic 1:
How do I compare and contrast different types of stories?
Journeys ebook: Music: sequence of events, realistic fiction vs informational text, grammar, informative writing
Journeys Reader's Notebook: blends with l, short o, what is a statement, exact adjectives, sequence, 
Topic 2:
Journeys ebook: Feelings: story structure, fantasy, poetry, descriptive writing
Journeys Reader's Notebook: blends with s, short e, plural nouns, special plurals, final blends, short u, articles, writing a topic sentence
Topic 3:
Journeys ebook: Marine Habitats - author's purpose, information text, informative writing
Journeys Reader's Notebook: words the th, proper nouns, words that tell how (adverbs), base words with suffixes, titles for people
Topic 4:
Journeys ebook: Jungle Animals - sequence of events, folktale, information text, compare texts
Journey Reader's Notebook: words with ch/tch, commands, order words, possessive
Topic 5:
Journeys ebook: Seasons - cause and effect, information text, compare
Journey Reader's Notebook: words with sh/wh/ph, subjects and verbs, main idea, contractions, verbs with s
Topic 6:
Journeys ebook: Citizenship - conclusions, fantasy, information text, writing reports
Journey Reader's Notebook: words with long a, verbs with -ed, taking notes, present and past tense, 
Topic 7:
Journey ebook: Animals - compare and contrast, information text, report
Journey Reader's Notebook: words with long i, using is and are, using clear words, digraphs kn, wr, gn, mb, using was and were

How is your class structured?
I create a learning atmosphere by starting with a check-in and review of what we have learned. Each topic will have an anchor chart to be printed for home use. I will use slides, activities, games, and songs to reinforce the topics. Each student will have an opportunity to practice in class and I will provide some activities for home use. 

Students will get free access to Brainzy, a game-centered learning experience offered by Education.com to practice concepts. There may be handouts to print at home before each unit begins. These will be in the classroom at least one week prior to the unit start. 

Each unit will have an assessment built into the lesson. This can be separated for those who wish for a test with a grade for a homeschooling portfolio. 

Daily homework activities are available and can be evaluated weekly as requested. 

I ask that each student have a primary composition notebook, pencils, colored pencils, or crayons. A whiteboard with a marker might also be helpful.  I expect all learners to have their video/audio on (see below). Students may be asked to read aloud with the option to pass.  There may be opportunities to present one's work as well.  Students may choose to respond verbally, through chat, through writing, or by drawing.

This course is open to any learner and can be appropriate for older students who are at a kindergarten/first-grade academic level.