English Language Arts 1

1st Grade English Language Arts includes two courses - ELA 1 and Phonics 1 - that together provide a comprehensive approach to literacy.

The program integrates phonics, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and handwriting to help students build strong foundational skills. 

Students develop comprehension, expand their vocabulary, and gain a lifelong interest in reading. Thematic literacy units feature workshops with instruction anchored by a focus text. Through a combination of teacher-led instruction (live or through embedded videos) and independent practice (both online and offline), students explore classic and contemporary works across a variety of genres and formats—fiction, poetry, drama, nonfiction, trade books, magazines, and e-books.

In the second semester, students complete focused grammar activities and practice writing a variety of compositions by following the writing process.

Phonics 1 prepares students to become confident, independent readers through teacher-led, systematic, and multisensory instruction that is developmentally appropriate. Students review phonological awareness and learn advanced decoding skills and sight words.

Multimodal learning is supported through Letter tiles, interactive games, engaging activities, and decodable readers - short stories composed entirely of words students can read independently.

Spelling instruction begins in the second half of the first semester in ELA 1, building on the foundation of letter-sound knowledge gained in Phonics. Targeted handwriting activities provide gentle, structured practice to help students print letters correctly and with confidence.