Level: Form I (K–3rd grades)
Subject(s): English
Description:
Current for 2026–27
In this interactive, multi-sensory, hands-on class, Form 1 Students delve into phonics and cursive penmanship, discover and apply spelling rules with grade-level spelling words, learn parts of speech, practice oral reading, and hear and recite classic works of poetry. With our commitment to incorporate the best of both classical tradition and contemporary research, this course uses researched-based best practices for helping students of all abilities and grade levels. Instruction will be individuated for students at various levels within Form 1. As space allows, parents of younger students are encouraged to arrange to sit in whenever possible to enjoy learning and engaging in the activities together with their students.
This class keeps it kinetic as beginning students (Form 1-a) use large motor skills to draw cursive letters and multi-letter phonograms in salt boxes and to water-paint them on the sidewalk before moving on to fine motor skills with pen and paper. Students will play games and relays, compose original sentences, and listen to beautiful literature read aloud.
Learning outcomes include growth in the foundational operations of language—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—as students learn to read so they can read to learn.
“Historically cursive was taught first to our nation’s children. Today, reading and dyslexia experts are rediscovering that teaching cursive first—before print or manuscript—improves long-term penmanship skills, helps children learn to read, virtually eliminates reversals, and enables children to read what is written by others.” –Elizabeth FitzGerald, author of Cursive First.”
Cursive penmanship instruction will be used in conjunction with the coordinating instruction in Spell to Write and Read by Wanda Sanseri. The curricula can be used with the beginning reader and writer or with older students transitioning from print to cursive. Students will have the opportunity to practice cursive in class and at home with a uniquely created PDF workbook that includes components of the Cursive First and other methods to reinforce letters and phonograms.
Beginning in the ELA 1c (3rd-grade) class, students will also learn manuscript/print handwriting using the Zaner-Bloser curriculum. Students will maintain cursive penmanship practice while adding manuscript/printing at this level and continuing through Form 2 ELA classes.
BHSC will offer parents free ELA training at the beginning of the school year.
Note: A placement test is required for all students entering ELA classes at BHSC for the first time levels 1-b and above. For pre-writers entering the Form 1-a ELA class, no placement test is required, but parents are asked to assess the student’s writing readiness.
Materials:
Families purchase the following required curriculum:
- Red Primary Learning Log—one per student; a new book is required each year.
- Spell to Write and Read core kit (one per family; one-time purchase)—If you cannot find this bundled item, you can purchase each component separately: (Note that this resource is used for all BHSC English Language Arts (ELA) classes, Kindergarten through 6th grade; it is a teaching resource that parents can use with multiple children and over multiple years.)
- Spell to Write and Read Teacher’s Manual
- Wise Guide for Spelling
- Phonogram Cards
- Spelling Rule Cards
- Optional: Phonogram CD—If you do not have a CD player and/or prefer a YouTube version, you can skip purchasing this item.
- Required—for ELA 1c & 2a only: Zaner-Bloser Handwriting grade 3 student workbook (2020 edition),
- OR—Optional—(for ELA 1c & 2a only): Zaner-Bloser Handwriting grade 3 student workbook bundled with Practice Masters
- Literature selections: The classroom instructor may also incorporate or recommend pictures books and other read-alouds which are TBD; we will contact enrolled families once the book list is available.
Families also supply a 3-ring notebook, pencils, colored pencils, and erasers in a pencil pouch.
Form 1-b and Form 1-c (2nd & 3rd grade) Students Only:
We strongly recommend the following resources for second and third-grade students in the Form 1-b and 1-c ELA classes: (A suggested at-home assignment schedule for these books will be provided in the Form 1-b and 1-c ELA syllabi to round out the students’ ELA education; these books will not be covered in class.)
- Form 1-b: Language Lessons for Today: Grade 2.
- Form 1-c: Language Lessons for Today: Grade 3.
- Wordly Wise 3000 Student Book, 3rd ed., either Book 2 for 2nd-grade (Form 1-b) or Book 3 for 3rd-grade (Form 1-c)
- Wordly Wise 3000 Answer Key, 3rd ed., either Book 2 Answer Key or Book 3 Answer Key
Optional for all levels:
- Optional: Cursive First (one per family; one-time purchase)—This resource is out of print, but BHSC teachers provide cursive practice pages for enrolled students. Note that this resource is for use in Kindergarten through 3rd grade and beyond; it is a teaching resource that parents can use with multiple children and over multiple years.
