Introduction
For children, first grade is an exciting year. It denotes new learning opportunities and piques the interest of young students. The papers demonstrate how classroom activities and projects help children achieve their social and personal development goals and the role of parents in helping their children achieve similar social and personal goals.
Grade Level Standards in the State
When a child first starts school, they are presented with a program. School curricula should be aligned with the state guidelines for that grade level. The state expects the child to do the following in grade one. To begin, a child should show oral communication skills by responding in an age-appropriate manner. Second, the child should show that he or she enjoys reading books and stories. Thirdly, the children should show increased competence in writing abilities and skills. Fourthly, the child should demonstrate an augmented understanding of number names and numerals. Fifth, the child should able to solve simple calculations such as addition and subtraction. Sixth, the child should have an understanding of how living things grow and change (Illinois Education Board, 2013, p.58).
Classroom Activities/ Projects
There are various projects and activities that children engage in school. Firstly, children are asked by the instructor to go outside and collect plants and later use them to make art in class. This experience enables the child to explore the environment and their skills in art. Secondly, the children engage in the beginning sound match class, fairy tale, and story sequencing. In the fairy tale, the children learn how to come up with their stories and share with others. Consequently, story sequencing enables a child to master the art of narration by using words such as then, last, and first (Teacher Organization, 2017, p.3 ).
Thirdly, children grow plants in the classroom garden and build bird feeders that they use to feed birds in school. Fourth, children engage in big and small activities, counting numerals backward, odd and even nature walks and measuring length. The activities enable the child to increase their understanding of words and numerals. Lastly, children are expected to use their senses to identify objects present in or outside the classroom (Teacher Organization, 2017, p.5).
Fostering Long-Term Personal and Social Developmental Goals
According to the psychosocial theory, at each stage of development, a child has different personal and social development goals. For instance, at grade 1, the goals of a child include developing and acquiring basic technical skills necessary to become productive individuals in the society. The skills include learning to write, read, solve mathematical equations, and take part in deductive reasoning. It is through developing these skills that the children use them in their individually (Carducci, 2009, p.190). The classroom activities enable the children to practice their skills. For instance, in activity one, three and five, the children develop deductive reasoning. In activity two, they master the art of reading and writing. In the fourth activity, children develop their skills in solving mathematical equations.
Parents Role in Development of Personal and Social Goals
Consequently, parents should contribute to the development of social and personal goals of their children. Based on the psychosocial theory a parent's role increases the child's competitiveness. Normally, when the child is developing their skills in class activities, they ultimately identify activities they can undertake best. The realization that they are not good enough makes them feel inferior (Carducci, 2009, p.190). Parents should buy their children story books and read the story books with them to improve their morale and skills. Secondly, allow their children to keep kitchen gardens. Lastly, allow their children to take grains for counting and help them in counting at home.
Conclusion
The personal and social development of a child is the responsibility of the government, parent, and school. The government establishes the learning standards, the teachers come up with classroom activities, and parents offer additional support. Unless the three work together, the child is not able to effectively achieve their personal and social development goals.
References
Carducci, B. J. (2009). The Psychology of Personality: Viewpoints, Research, and Applications. Malden: Wiley – Blackwell.
Illinois Education Board. (2013). Illinois Early Learning and Development. Illinois Education Board.
Teacher Organization. (2017). Lesson Plans. Retrieved May 28, 2017, from Teacher Organization: http://www.teacher.org/lesson-plans/1st-grade/
