What does a typical 1st and 3rd grade schedule look like in ACPS?

[Anonymous]

I mean mainly in terms of how many hours/timeblocks of math, literacy, art, foreign language etc. THANKS

[Anonymous]

We have a 1st grader. I don't remember all of it exactly, but there is science one day/week, and a special class each day: art, music, library, and PE (2x). There is a long block for reading/English; a block for math; and a block for math exploration/extra intervention. There is 20 minutes for recess, and 20-30 minutes for lunch. I may be missing something. There is no foreign language, although you can take it as an after-school class.

[Anonymous]

Would just add that the main difference between 1st and 3rd is that you tend to have more movement between classrooms. They might send a group of kids to the teacher next door for reading or math instruction. It's not hard and fast "leveling" just different groupings depending on what's happening. It can vary a bit from school to school. Your best source of info is to go to a PTA meeting of the school you are interested in and talk to parents there.
The new superintendent seems very interested in pursuing world languages at the elementary level. There was a exploratory committee formed last year on the topic. Not exactly sure what the plan is going forward...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a 1st grader. I don't remember all of it exactly, but there is science one day/week, and a special class each day: art, music, library, and PE (2x). There is a long block for reading/English; a block for math; and a block for math exploration/extra intervention. There is 20 minutes for recess, and 20-30 minutes for lunch. I may be missing something. There is no foreign language, although you can take it as an after-school class.

Science is only 1 day per week?

[Anonymous]

We have a 1st grader. I don't remember all of it exactly, but there is science one day/week, and a special class each day: art, music, library, and PE (2x). There is a long block for reading/English; a block for math; and a block for math exploration/extra intervention. There is 20 minutes for recess, and 20-30 minutes for lunch. I may be missing something. There is no foreign language, although you can take it as an after-school class.


Science is only 1 day per week?

There is a special science instructor that comes in one day per week. Not sure if they do other types of science on other days - they have a block in 1st grade labeled science/social studies that is every day and I'm not clear how it alternates.

[Anonymous]

It will vary by school somewhat, particularly where there are special programs. For example, dual language has a Spanish literacy block. The general schedule in 1st grade dual language is slightly less than 2.5 hours block with the morning teacher (if English, then this time is divided between reading, writing, and social studies; if Spanish, then the time is divided between math, science, and Spanish reading/writing); 20 min recess + 30 min lunch; 45 minute music/art/PE/library depending on the day; and slightly less than 2.5 hour block with the afternoon teacher (same as the description above for morning teacher block). I haven't thought to ask for a breakdown of the morning/afternoon blocks, so I can't tell you how that time is divided. I think the schedule is roughly the same for 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

Science or social studies is taught. They alternated.

Both had very simple hands on activities that weren't really very hands on. By the time my kid was doing the hands on portion it was something like cut and paste or look at something under a microscope one time.

Neither curriculum was very robust and I wouldn't depend on either. Also, neither subject involves much writing at all.