Elementary School (K-5)
Grade 1
Reading takes off, and numbers start to make sense.
- Length
- Full school year, three terms
- Format
- Online Live
- Level
- Elementary
- Tuition
- $1,999 a year
About Grade 1
Grade 1 turns sounds into reading and counting into arithmetic. Lessons are short and practical, with daily reading aloud and plenty of repetition. Teachers check every child individually each week, so a gap in phonics or number facts is caught while it is still small.
By the end of the year
- Read simple books aloud with growing fluency
- Add and subtract within twenty quickly
- Write several sentences that make sense together
- Ask and answer questions about a text
What we provide
- Live class platform (browser, no install)
- Digital reading library
- Parent portal for progress and attendance
- Printable practice packs
The school year, term by term
3 terms · Full school year, three terms · reports go home at the end of each one.
Fall term: reading with confidence
- Phonics review and new sounds
- Addition and subtraction to 20
- Sentences and full stops
- Living things and habitats
Winter term: fluency
- Reading longer books aloud
- Place value to 100
- Writing a short story
- Materials and their properties
Spring term: independence
- Reading for meaning
- Measurement, time and money
- Non-fiction writing
- Our community and maps
Assessed work
What your child produces across the year, and what the report card is based on:
A termly reading record
A mini science notebook
A community map of where the child lives
Who this suits
- Families who want live teaching rather than videos and worksheets
- Children who travel, move often, or live outside their district
- Children who need a calmer, smaller room than a full class
- Families who can sit with a younger child during the school day
Joining this grade
Open to students entering Grade 1. We ask for the most recent school report and run a short placement check in English and mathematics, so your child starts where they actually are rather than where the calendar says.
Teachers for this level
Marta Alvarez
Head of Elementary
Marta taught kindergarten and first grade for eleven years before moving online, and she designs the elementary timetable around how long a young child can actually concentrate. She leads the weekly reading check that every elementary child sits.
Jonah Fischer
Elementary Teacher, Science and Mathematics
Jonah makes science happen at the kitchen table: his lessons use what families already have at home, and every investigation ends with the child explaining what they found. He also runs elementary number practice.
Priya Menon
Learning Support Lead
Priya works with students who need something adjusted: more time, different materials, a quieter room, or a plan agreed with the family. She reviews every new student’s placement notes and checks in through the year.
What this year leads to
- Grade 2 at Pioneer Academy
Tuition for Grade 1
$1,999 per student for the school year, payable in full or in three term instalments of about $666. Tuition covers live classes, teaching materials and the parent portal. Books for the year are listed in the enrolment pack. Joining mid-year is charged from the term your child starts.
Pioneer Academy is not an accredited school and is working toward accreditation. Reports and transcripts are school-issued.
Questions about Grade 1
What does a school day look like in Grade 1?
Live classes run about 3 hours of live class a day, mornings Eastern Time, with breaks between lessons. The rest of the day is independent work, reading and, in the older grades, set assignments. Families in other time zones should check the timetable with admissions before enrolling, because classes are live.
Is Pioneer Academy accredited?
No. Pioneer Academy is not an accredited school and is working toward accreditation; we will publish the outcome when there is one. We issue our own report cards and transcripts, which not every district or college will recognise. If an accredited record matters to you, please confirm with your district or your child’s next school before enrolling.
What happens if my child joins part way through the year?
Mid-year places open at the start of the winter and spring terms, subject to space. We review recent school reports and run a short placement conversation so your child joins the right grade and we know what has already been covered. Tuition is charged from the term the child starts.
What do we need at home?
A computer or tablet with a camera and microphone, a reliable internet connection, and somewhere reasonably quiet to work. Books and materials for the year are listed in the enrolment pack before term starts.
Take the next step
Is Grade 1 right for your child?
Twenty minutes with admissions covers the timetable, the placement check and what the year actually involves. If another school suits them better, we will say so.