Our first grade students learn Bible stories from Genesis and Exodus, the life of Christ, and the Book of Acts.  We learn catechisms 1-36 from Catechisms for Children and memorize the verses that accompany the catechisms (NIV).   In addition, the students memorize John 3:16 and Psalm 91:1-9 from the NIV.  They also learn Luke 2:15-20 from the King James Version.

Our students delight in prayer, Bible reading, and growing in a relationship with the Lord.  It is our goal that seeds are planted so that each child will develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

We use the Riggs phonics program as the heart of our reading and phonics curriculum.  Penmanship is integrated with the teaching of spelling and phonics.  We have modified the program somewhat as reflected in our first grade spelling lists which emphasize the individual phonograms and markings that are unique to the Riggs Curriculum. 

Each word the students learn is written, spoken, visualized and analyzed in enjoyable daily exercises.

We use Saxon Math 2 curriculum which presents concepts in increments with ample time provided for review and practice.  Addition, subtraction and multiplication facts are drilled daily. Word problems are solved daily as a part of each lesson.  Basic skills are reviewed each morning during “the meeting." During the daily lesson, students learn through hands-on group activities.

We use the first grade Bob Jones science series. This science curriculum exalts God as the creator and the source of all scientific knowledge.  God’s wisdom, omnipotence and sovereignty are woven into each lesson. The wonders of science are revealed through hands-on activities, role-play, chants and poems, and field trips.

We use the Beginning Geography Volumes 1 and 2 by Evan Moor Publishing Company as the basis for our program.  The students also learn a different state each week and locate the state and its capital on a U.S. map. The students chant and sing to learn the names of the continents and oceans.

We learn symbols and a myriad of  facts as we put an Alabama state notebook together.  We also learn verses from America:  A Patriotic Primer by Lynne Cheney as a basis for an overview of American history. The students memorize the major verses of this book weekly, culminating in an end of the year presentation highlighting the foundations of American freedom.

The students begin the year with a limited amount of time using basal readers but then quickly begin reading first grade classics, such as Little Bear and Amelia Bedelia.  Emphasis on the enjoyment of reading and allowing students to progress at their own pace is central to our program. 

These core books are read aloud from a Christian worldview:  Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White;  Christopher Columbus, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington by Edgar and Ingri Du Laire; My Brother Martin by Christine Farris King; and The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis. 

We use the Shurley Grammar series for first grade.  Students learn the basic parts of speech:  nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, article adjectives, prepositions, and objects of the preposition.  Sentences are classified and analyzed with each lesson.  The students learn how to write a two point paragraph and learn basic punctuation and capitalization rules. The students love to recite grammar jingles.