The Carbon School District update took time to shine a spotlight on Sally Mauro Elementary this week and Castle Country Radio was able to speak with First Grade Teachers about how things are going so far this school year.

The students are coming from kindergarten and tackling full days in first grade. There are a few subjects that are being emphasized in this grade, as Mrs. Jenilee Dart explains, “One of our first-grade goals this year is to do word problems and so we’ve been starting working on word problems and how to get the information out of those. We also have a big push for reading on grade level, so that is always a main focus. We started a new thing this year where we’re actually trying to get them to really write, like a sentence and leading into a paragraph.” These skills build the foundation for what students will need as they move upwards in grade levels.

There is a lot to learn in first grade not just academically but also with how to behave and conduct one’s self at school. “So we teach procedures, we start day one and we focus on those all year long. So very repetitive, just going through the process of the expectations of what they should be doing behavioral wise and we’ve targeted that behavior because we figure if we get right on top of good behavior then we can teach everything we need to academically. So if they’re in the classroom doing what they’re suppose to be doing with procedures then we can get a lot more learning implemented,” stated Mrs. Kelley Bradley. Good behaviors at school are sure to produce good students all the way around.

Another trait that is important for first graders is independence as Mrs. Kailee Pendergrass explains, “I’m also focusing on independence. They are learning to tie their shoes, and learning to zip up their jackets which is something new to me, and we have a lot of bathroom breaks and I’m just trying to be like, okay, you just a lot of independencies. Use the bathroom when you’re suppose to, let’s try to tie your shoe together, like you try to zip up that jacket before I do, and just stuff like that.” Allowing students to learn on their own without assistance from parents/teachers is part of growing up and learning independence.

To keep posted on the happenings at Sally Mauro Elementary visit their Facebook page.