First Grade at Pioneer Academy | Best Private School in Passaic County

Pioneer’s K–4 Language Arts program is thoughtfully designed around the Teachers College Reading and Writing Workshop model from Columbia University, offering students a balanced and enriching literacy experience.

This model places a strong emphasis on helping children grow into confident readers, writers, speakers, and listeners through a structured yet flexible approach. Classrooms are filled with high-interest books from well-loved series, creating a vibrant reading environment that invites children to explore stories that both engage and challenge them.

Literacy instruction is woven into every part of the day through purposeful read-alouds, guided reading sessions, and independent practice, which not only build comprehension but also foster deep thinking and oral expression. Students are taught “Read, Stop, Think!” strategies to help them make predictions, visualize scenes, summarize content, and draw inferences—all essential skills for developing thoughtful, independent readers.

Writing is treated as an equally important part of the curriculum. Grammar, spelling, and vocabulary are not taught in isolation but are embedded within meaningful writing tasks. Students learn to craft pieces for a range of audiences and purposes, moving through the full writing process—from brainstorming and drafting to revising and editing.

The goal is to nurture children who not only understand the mechanics of writing but also enjoy expressing themselves and developing their unique voices. Each workshop session begins with a mini-lesson during which students sit alongside a consistent partner. After the lesson, they transition into independent work, where they apply new strategies while the teacher moves around the classroom, conferring individually and working with small groups.

A mid-workshop teaching point allows students to refocus or try a new idea. The session concludes with a share, enabling children to reflect on their work and celebrate their progress with peers. This daily structure fosters consistency, ownership, and a deep love for literacy.

At Pioneer, our grade 1 literacy program is grounded in the principles of the Science of Reading and is thoughtfully designed to develop strong foundational skills in both decoding and comprehension. Each day, students engage in structured reading routines that include explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Through the use of our tiered classroom libraries, children are introduced to a wide range of books carefully matched to their reading levels, allowing them to grow at their own pace while developing confidence and a love for reading. Teachers provide daily small-group and one-on-one support, focusing on targeted instruction that meets each child’s needs while reinforcing effective reading habits.

The Reading Workshop model guides the daily flow of instruction. It begins with a focused mini-lesson that introduces a specific reading strategy, such as making predictions, asking questions, or visualizing the text. Following the mini lesson, students practice the strategy independently with texts they can read with confidence. During this time, teachers confer with individual students and lead small guided reading groups to ensure that each learner is progressing.

Collaborative learning is woven into the reading block, as students regularly work with reading partners. They take turns reading aloud, engaging in discussions, asking questions about the story, and making thoughtful predictions, which helps to develop both fluency and comprehension.

Science of Reading practices are embedded throughout the day. Students engage in daily phonological awareness routines, learning to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken words. Phonics instruction is systematic and explicit, using decodable texts and multisensory activities to reinforce sound-spelling relationships. High-frequency words are introduced strategically, supporting both decoding and word recognition.

Spelling is integrated into literacy instruction through word sorts, phonics-based games, and word families, all of which deepen students' understanding of language structure. This well-rounded approach ensures our youngest learners are supported as they build the skills necessary for reading success.

At Pioneer, our Writer’s Workshop model is designed to help children develop their voices as authors through a structured and meaningful approach to writing. Students are guided through each stage of the writing process—generating ideas, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing—in an environment that values creativity, independence, and thoughtful reflection.

Throughout the year, students explore a variety of writing units that expose them to different genres and purposes. These include personal narratives, nonfiction chapter books, opinion pieces, and poetry, each designed to build both foundational writing skills and the ability to communicate with clarity and purpose.

Each writing workshop begins with a focused mini-lesson where the teacher introduces a writing strategy or technique. These lessons may focus on developing strong leads, adding rich details, organizing ideas, or improving sentence structure and punctuation. After the mini-lesson, students move into independent writing time, where they apply what they’ve learned to their own work. During this time, teachers confer individually with students or work with small groups to provide targeted support tailored to each student’s needs. Children keep their drafts and works-in-progress in individual writing folders, which encourages them to revisit their pieces over time and see writing as a process of growth and refinement.

In each unit, students learn to write with intention and structure. In personal narratives, they reflect on meaningful moments in their lives, learning how to turn real experiences into compelling stories. Nonfiction writing offers the chance to become an expert, as students organize and present factual information in clear, chaptered texts.

Opinion writing teaches them to make claims and back them up with reasons, while poetry allows for more open-ended exploration of language and expression. At the end of each unit, students share their completed work during an Author’s Celebration, highlighting the progress they’ve made and the pride they take in their writing. This workshop approach not only strengthens writing skills but also builds confidence and a genuine love for expressing ideas through words.

At Pioneer, our math instruction is guided by the Math in Focus curriculum and aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Our approach emphasizes deep conceptual understanding, problem-solving, and hands-on learning that helps students make meaningful connections to real-world math. First-grade students begin the year by developing a strong foundation in addition and subtraction strategies within the range of 20. This early focus enables them to develop fluency, flexibility, and confidence with numbers, laying the groundwork for more complex thinking throughout the year.

As students progress, they explore place value concepts to understand how numbers are composed of tens and ones. This understanding is essential as they begin to compare numbers, order them, and solve problems involving greater or fewer quantities. Telling time to the hour and half-hour becomes another essential focus as students apply number sense to the context of clocks and daily routines. In addition to number work, students engage with data by learning to create and interpret graphs, building skills in organizing information and drawing conclusions from it.

Geometry is also an essential part of the curriculum, as children explore and describe the attributes of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. They learn to compare, sort, and build with shapes, developing spatial reasoning and a strong mathematical vocabulary. Measurement is introduced through hands-on activities that allow students to estimate, compare, and measure using nonstandard and standard units. They also learn about money, identifying coins and bills and applying their addition and subtraction skills to real-world contexts involving spending and saving.

Throughout all units, the Math in Focus program emphasizes problem-solving and reasoning, encouraging students to explain their thinking and approach challenges with persistence. Daily lessons blend direct instruction with visual models, interactive activities, and guided practice, ensuring that each child can access and master grade-level concepts. This comprehensive approach supports a solid foundation in math while building the skills students need for future success.

In first grade at Pioneer, our science program is guided by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and brought to life through rich, hands-on learning experiences. Using engaging resources such as Mystery Science and Know Atom, students explore foundational science topics in meaningful and interactive ways. Throughout the year, students investigate the properties of matter and energy, examine Earth’s surface, learn about the survival needs of living things, discover patterns in weather, and begin to understand our place in space. Each unit is paired with a hands-on experiment that encourages exploration, observation, and critical thinking, allowing students to apply scientific concepts through direct experience.

Our inquiry-based approach inspires young learners to ask thoughtful questions and investigate the world around them. Students participate in active discussions, test hypotheses, collect data, and draw conclusions based on evidence they’ve gathered. Whether they are studying how the sun provides energy to living things, building models to understand landforms, or observing seasonal weather changes, students are immersed in experiences that promote curiosity and engagement. With each investigation, children are encouraged to work collaboratively, share their thinking, and revise ideas as they learn from one another and the results of their experiments.

The science lab becomes a place of wonder where students identify themselves as scientists. They practice important habits of mind such as persistence, careful observation, and respectful communication. Lessons integrate scientific vocabulary and skills that grow over time, preparing students to think analytically and solve problems creatively. As they rotate through units on space, weather, the earth’s surface, and living organisms, children begin to make connections between natural systems and their everyday lives.

By the end of the year, students will have had multiple opportunities to explore real-world phenomena, apply the scientific method, and build a foundation of knowledge that will support more advanced science learning in the years to come.

In first grade at Pioneer, Social Studies instruction is grounded in the New Jersey K–2 Student Learning Standards and centers around helping children understand their place within their family, community, and country. Students begin the year by learning about citizenship and community, exploring the roles, rights, and responsibilities of individuals in a society.

Through stories, class discussions, and real-world connections, they begin to understand how rules help communities function and how citizens contribute to the common good. These foundational ideas support the development of informed and responsible decision-making, rooted in the core democratic values that define American society.

As the year progresses, students examine families from the past and present, using historical comparisons to understand how people’s lives have changed over time while recognizing enduring traditions. They study different family customs, beliefs, and cultural practices from around the world, reflecting on both similarities and differences with their own experiences. These explorations foster an appreciation for diversity and help children develop a more comprehensive understanding of the world.

In addition to studying culture and history, students are introduced to key concepts of community economics. They learn about goods and services, producers and consumers, and the difference between wants and needs. These lessons are tied to students’ everyday experiences and provide them with a basic understanding of how choices and resources shape communities. Geography is another important focus in first grade, as students use maps and globes to identify their place in the world and gain a better understanding of the relationship between people and the environment. They learn about their neighborhoods, towns, and larger geographic regions while also exploring how location affects how people live.

Ultimately, students learn about the significant symbols that represent the United States and their meanings. They explore familiar icons such as the American flag, the bald eagle, the Liberty Bell, and the Statue of Liberty, gaining an understanding of the values and history these symbols reflect. Through stories, discussions, and visual exploration, students begin to connect these symbols to national pride, freedom, and unity.

By recognizing the meaning behind these images, children deepen their understanding of what it means to be part of the American community and how shared symbols help bring people together around common ideals.

Physical Education at Pioneer Academy provides students with a dynamic environment that extends beyond the traditional classroom. Through various physical activities, students are encouraged to be creative, cooperative, and competitive while navigating diverse challenges both individually and as part of a team. The curriculum is intentionally designed to promote locomotor development, teamwork, communication, and cooperation—essential foundations for both physical and social development.

A key benefit of physical education is its positive impact on mental well-being. A well-rounded workout helps reduce anxiety, tension, and stress, leading to better focus and improved academic performance. Lower School Physical Education classes foster this holistic development by integrating movement and mindfulness into students’ daily routines.

The Pioneer Academy Physical Education program emphasizes the development of lifelong skills that extend well beyond the gymnasium. Students build physical fitness and motor skills while also learning valuable life lessons through active play. The program fosters good sportsmanship, encouraging students to practice positive social behaviors through interaction and movement. It fosters skill acquisition in areas such as throwing, catching, striking, and kicking, and encourages students to develop a healthy self-image by understanding and expressing themselves through physical activity.

Classes typically begin with warm-up routines, including jogging, jumping rope, tumbling, parachute games, and dance activities—all designed to build aerobic and anaerobic endurance. Students participate in group games that develop agility, balance, coordination, spatial awareness, directionality, and creative movement skills.

Through a fun and non-competitive approach, students learn foundational sports skills, including jumping, catching, throwing, kicking, dribbling, volleying, and striking. These activities are always supervised to ensure a supportive environment where every child can build confidence, self-esteem, and positive interpersonal skills. Physical education at Pioneer Academy empowers children to enjoy movement, value fitness, and cultivate a lifelong love of healthy activity.

The First Grade Visual Arts program at Pioneer Academy continues to build on the strong foundation established in kindergarten. Students dive deeper into the elements of art—line, shape, color, texture, space, and form—through engaging, hands-on experiences that encourage exploration and creativity. Our focus remains on sensory-rich activities that allow students to connect with art in a meaningful, personal way.

In first grade, students are given the opportunity to expand their skills by using a variety of artistic mediums, including crayons, markers, watercolor, oil pastels, and clay. These materials are carefully selected to provide tactile experiences that support fine motor development and inspire imaginative thinking. Through guided projects, students begin to combine materials, experiment with techniques, and make thoughtful artistic choices that reflect their growing understanding of art concepts.

We place great emphasis on building upon prior knowledge. Students revisit key concepts introduced in kindergarten and are encouraged to explore them in more depth. As their confidence grows, so does their ability to express ideas and emotions through their artwork. They begin to recognize that art is not just about creating something visually appealing—it’s also about telling stories, exploring cultures, and understanding the world around them.

First graders are also introduced to basic art history, learning about artists from different times and places. They discover that art is everywhere—on buildings, in nature, in books, and in everyday objects—and that everyone has the ability to be creative. By exploring famous works of art and the lives of artists, students develop an appreciation for diverse styles and perspectives.

The First Grade Visual Arts program at Pioneer Academy nurtures each child’s creative voice while laying the groundwork for more advanced artistic learning in the years ahead. Through discovery, practice, and expression, students grow into thoughtful, confident young artists.

PIONEER

First Grade

First grade is an exciting time for Pioneer learners.

First Grade

First grade is an exciting time for Pioneer learners.

Curriculum