Academics : First Grade

Leon Heights Elementary School First Grade

My name is Paul Willie. I am a First Grade Teacher at Leon Heights. I grew up on a farm in Central Texas, graduated from Yoe High School in Cameron. I graduated from Texas A&M in 1971. I am married to my high school sweetheart, Margaret. We have one son, Chris, who graduated from Texas A&M in 2008.

e-mail address: paul.willie@bisd.net

My name is Lindsay Bledsoe and I am a First Grade Teacher at Leon Heights. I grew up in Amarillo, Texas but eventually made my way down to Belton. I graduated from Baylor University with my Bachelor's degree in music performance and my Master's degree in education. During my spare time I enjoy volunteering at my church, reading, and spending time with my family. I taught in Waco last year and am so excited to be back in Belton teaching at Leon Heights!

e-mail address: lindsay.bledsoe@bisd.net

Lots of BIG things happen in First Grade at Leon Heights and the teachers are always excited to watch the change and growth your child will experience this year.

The First Grade teachers look forward to providing your child with a learning environment that will be nurturing and challenging. Our goal is that your child becomes a successful, life-long learner, and we look forward to working together to make this a wonderful school year.

Learning to read is our main emphasis. Your child will learn to incorporate phonics skills, reading strategies, and sight words to read with understanding and fluency.

Speaking and listening are important skills for a First Grader. Your child will learn to express himself in a clear, concise way. First Grade students will also learn to follow multiple step directions, and become active learners.

First Graders will explore all areas of math with the use of manipulative's. Your child will learn to write, count, and compare numbers, and solve addition and subtraction facts.

Learning to tell time, reading graphs, measuring and patterning will be taught in First Grade.

The First Grade curriculum includes Life Science, Earth and Space and Science in Society. In First Grade Social Studies your child will explore and identify ways in which people in our society are alike and different. A strong emphasis on developing citizenship skills will be our focus in Social Studies.

The ability to learn academic skills and become a successful learner needs to be supported by strong Life Skills. First Grader students will learn to demonstrate responsibility by following classroom and school rules. They will also learn to accept responsibility for their own actions.

First Grade students will be asked to demonstrate a sense of thoughtfulness toward others. This may be accomplished in part by working cooperatively in a group, following teacher directions and practicing good health habits.

Your child will have a busy, exciting year in First Grade at Leon Heights.