The first grade program at Milton Elementary School consists of 8 classes.  The types of classroom configurations in first grade consist of Looping, Vertical Team and Single Grade placements.

Looping is an educational practice in which a single graded class of children stays with a teacher for two or more years or grade levels. The children and the teacher remain together as the class is promoted. At the end of the second year in the pattern, the children move on to a new teacher while the looping teacher returns to the lower grade level to receive a new group of students.

A Vertical Team offers a structured four-year program for students entering first through fourth grade. The vertical team is a similar model to looping, except that the children stay together through fourth grade and will be working with a team of four teachers. The first and second grade classrooms function as single grade classrooms, and the third and fourth grade classrooms are a multi-age team.

Single Grade – This is a structure that has a group of children working with a classroom teacher for one year and then placed in another class the following year with a new teacher.  This model is the one most commonly found in schools.

While there are different models, it is also important to note that the curriculums they teach are the same and the expectations with each grade level are consistent throughout each class. All children will receive instruction that covers the same high standards using materials and techniques that are high quality and research- based. 

The teachers currently teaching first grade for the 2008-2009 school year are: