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First Grade
First grade at UIS provides students with a supportive transition into even more formal instruction in language arts and mathematics. Language arts provides an emphasis in letter, book, and print awareness; phonemic awareness; phonics; fluency; vocabulary and comprehension; inquiry; and, language arts writing, grammar, and spelling. The classroom mathematics program is grounded in the sequential acquisition and application of basic skills. It is here that students first learn the importance of knowing the “how,” “when,” and “why” of mathematical applications. The first grade program emphasizes the importance of community. Parents have extensive volunteer opportunities both in and out of the classroom to facilitate a home-school community. First grade students also conduct weekly interviews of staff and faculty members to become better acquainted with the adults on campus. Students learn more about the community outside of UIS through local field trips and various service projects. The teacher uses this focus on community to instill in students a sense of respect and responsibility.