Level 1: Grades 1 and 2 "The Swallows"
The early years of formal education establish the foundation for much of students’ social, physical, cognitive and emotional development. During this crucial time, not only are students learning early literacy and math skills, they are also learning how to work with others and are establishing their disposition toward schooling. That’s why we work so hard to create relevant, engaging, and nurturing learning experiences for our youngest students. Because research proves time and again that small classes have academic and social benefits, we keep our classes small, with only 20 students on average. What follows is a brief description of how we teach reading, writing, math, science, social studies, art and physical education in Level 1.
Reading
Learning to Read
Students have multiple opportunities for reading each day with at least 90 minutes of dedicated reading time. This includes independent reading time, read aloud, and an hour-long literacy block. During this time, students work in groups based on their reading level. The teacher meets with each group to help students with word-solving skills, comprehension, fluency, word knowledge and making connections between reading and writing. While the teacher is working with one group, other groups work independently on word study, read books at their reading level or work on a variety of literacy activities in “Literacy Centers.” Centers are designed to offer independent choice and support various learning styles, interest and skill, as well collaborative and social learning.
Reading to Learn
As part of our integrated approach to learning, students spend time working on projects related to the unit of study. For these projects, students must conduct research to learn about the topic at hand. For example, Level 1 students created field guides to local birds and mammals. Each student was responsible for learning about a species and became the in-class expert. To do this, reading non-fiction texts was important. In addition, teachers read to students and give instruction on how to decode text, i.e., they help the students to use reading strategies to understand what the book is saying.
Loving to Read 
In order to improve reading skills, students have to practice and, without an innate interest in reading, practice is a battle. We encourage a love of reading by creating engaging in-class libraries with high-interest books, by giving students choice in what they read (whenever possible), through interactive read-alouds, by offering independent reading time and by always sharing our own enthusiasm for reading with students.
Writing
We use an approach called “Writer’s Workshop” to teach writing at Level 1. Through this method, teachers use whole group, small group, and individualized instruction to develop writing skills. Teachers begin by giving students a mini lesson, during which an aspect of writing is introduced, such as generating writing ideas, vocabulary choice, editing, or grammar. After the mini lesson, students work independently while the teacher circulates through the class, holding conferences with individual students to give them guidance. Writer’s Workshop is an effective way to improve student writing skills and helps students to develop a sense of themselves as writers.
Beyond the Writer’s Workshop sessions, writing is integrated throughout the daily routines and instruction, while studying science, social studies and other subjects, or through projects. Students write in their Out and About response journals, enter information about their days into student blogs, write thank you notes, and write letters to classmates. Because of our place-based approach to education, students are often working on projects that are locally relevant, and writing is always integral to this work. Recent examples of student projects through which students practiced writing skills include a Kid’s Guide to Forest Grove and a guide to local mammals.
Mathematics
Math is the one area of our curriculum that students study in grade levels as well as through our mixed-age classrooms. For grade-level math, students in the two grades separate four times a week for an hour of math instruction. We use the “Bridges in Mathematic” curriculum, which focuses on problem solving and the development of mathematical reasoning in students. This program is aligned with National Council for Teachers of Mathematics and Oregon state standards. During the math block, students work as a whole group, individually, in pairs and in small groups. There is a “working buzz” in the classroom during collaborative work time as children are encouraged to talk math with each other, sharing their problem solving approach and receiving feedback from teacher and peers. By encouraging dialogue about math, we promote in students a sense of engagement in their mathematical understanding.
Within grade-level math and in our mixed-age classrooms, teachers make mathematics relevant to students by drawing on the experiences of the children or the current project being studied. For example, in a recent study on ocean habitat, the 1st grade math class used crabs as a way to represent repeated addition of groups of ten (the number of crab appendages) and to lay the foundation for multiplication.
Social Studies & Science
Science and social studies are integrated through class-wide projects. Areas of study are drawn from state and national standards for social studies and science education including the study of heritage, culture, habitat, life cycle and others. Social studies and science units provide rich opportunities for our Out & Abouts. Last year, for example, the study of habitat took students to Tillamook Forest, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Cannon Beach, the Audubon Society, and Fernhill Wetlands, among other locations.
Art
Level 1 students have art class twice weekly for 50 minutes. As with all students, art is an integrated subject for our youngest students with each project designed to complement the classroom's place-based curriculum. For example, at the beginning of the school year, students write autobiograhies in class, then create self portaits in art. Level 1 art classes focus on laying the foundation for lifelong artistic exploration by introducing elements and principles of design. Students learn about color theory and texture by mixing primary colors as well as black and white to create large sheets of painted paper in a wide range of hues. Throughout all art endeavors we encourage student voice and free expression.
Physical Activity
Students in Level 1 have physical activity class once a week for an hour. The program at this level is designed to provide movement experiences that help students develop motor skills and the characteristics of teamwork and sportsmanship. Cooperative games give students in this age group the opportunity to learn self-control and practice taking turns.