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1st & 2nd Grade

Teacher: Mrs. Arroz

​Email: marroz@gcachicago.org ​

1st & 2nd Grade: Our Approach


First grade expects that students are ready to learn!  Students are expected to work hard and begin to practice time management skills which includes completing weekly homework packets.  Students focus hard on their core subjects with Mrs. Nava in order to have a more individualized learning environment.  A heavy emphasis on literacy and math skills helps students become confident readers and builds a strong foundation for learning higher level skills in the future.  Science, social studies, religion, and gym are also a big part of the curriculum in the afternoons.

Second grade helps students transition from learning to read to reading to learn.  Students continue to develop literacy and comprehension skills in order to use reading as a means to learn about other subjects.  Students also are encouraged to strengthen their writing skills as a means of expressing their thoughts and ideas.  Exploration, problem-solving, reading and math skills are all put to use in the science and math curriculum as students continue to grow in each of these skill areas. 

1st & 2nd grade at Cultural Fair


​What sets our 2nd Grade classroom apart:

  • FOCUS ON READING: Small group reading tailors and adjusts books and activities to each child’s reading level while 5th grade reading buddies also provide one-on-one attention to develop reading skills.  The class also comes together to showcase skills during reader’s theater class plays.

  • LEARNING TO EXPRESS: Poetry portfolios and a class poetry slam, personal narrative storybooks, and persuasion letters presented to a real audience all challenge students to use writing as a means of expression.

  • INDIVIDUAIZED LEARNING: Espark on ipads is a program that provides differentiated instruction in math and reading with fun videos and games at the student’s level.

  • LEARNING GOD’S TRUTH: Students are encouraged to hide God’s word in their hearts with multiple ways of learning the Bible.  They practice a weekly Bible verse by singing a song, acting out the verse and drawing visualizations.

  • STAYING FOCUSED: Brain breaks are a fun classroom tradition that gives students an opportunity to get up and move around.  Students are given a few minutes to dance and jump around  to refresh their minds before continuing in another lesson.
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1:1 iPad Access for Each Student!