I was in first grade in 1971 in California. At that time, California had very highly ranked schools.
Kindergarten was half-day only and a lot of time was spent singing songs, dancing, art, and playing on the playground (that had equipment you don't find on playgrounds today). We learned our alphabet. We had a snack that the school provided (graham cracker and white milk) and then were required to "take a nap" on the floor.
First grade is when we learned our phonics and reading. I recall the class was divided into two reading groups in the morning and two in the afternoon. The class I was in was morning group and I was in the "advanced" readers. I specifically remember being asked to help kids in the less advanced group.
In third grade (I didn't notice this before that age), one of the really smart kids was called out of class. He joined other kids from other classes in the library for "stuff". I remember his desk was set apart a bit from the others in class. (Now I realize he must have been gifted.) I recall him specifically because I had a huge crush on him. LoL
For first grade math, I spent a great deal of time perfecting my finger-counting speed. I don't remember seeing a flash card until fourth grade when my teacher finally realized I was falling behind because I just couldn't multiply fast enough on my fingers to pass the test in time. (!) I remember the first standardized test coming sometime around second or third grade, not any in first. I loved filling in those little bubbles neatly.
I was a good speller and remember our teacher reading spelling words and including them in a sentence when testing us. It was always easy. We spent time practicing our handwriting on those sheets of brownish paper with the red dotted line in the middle. I hated how erasing smeared it and sometimes made holes.
I walked to school with my neighbor. It took us at least 20 minutes walking through our suburban neighborhood. (Rarely are 6-7 year old kids seen walking in that neighborhood today.) When we got to school, all the kids could play on the playground until the bell rang. Then we ran to our line and lined up in front of our classroom door, on our number. No one missed before school recess much. It was like a bonus fun time. We also had another 20 minute recess in the late morning. There was a lot of running and chasing and yelling. We used to have screaming contests. The two playground "monitors" didn't flinch. We had lots of balls and could bring our own jacks from home. Sometimes, teachers would organize dodgeball games. We also played "Red Rover, Red Rover" and "Telephone Line". A lot of jumping rope and singing the rhymes that went along with it.
We brought money for school lunch; if we didn't bring our metal lunch box with thermos full of soup, that is. If you lost your lunch money, it was probably in the tan-bark box under the swings. I recall digging in that bark and finding lots of coins.
There were no assigned tables and you could sit wherever you wanted. We all rushed to finish our lunch to go out into the playground. We had plenty of time since lunch/recess was an hour long. If you had extra money, you could go to "the window" in the quad and get an ice cream for dessert. I usually didn't have extra money, so I used my dime to buy an ice cream instead of the milk mom wanted me to purchase. She found out and nixed that in a hurry.
If you needed to use the restroom during class time, all you had to do was raise your hand to get a "hall pass". Often more than one child suddenly needed a pass.
In the restroom (divided by sex), there was poor lighting, a concrete floor with drain in the middle and one large circular water fountain that you operated with a floor pedal. It went all the way around this fountain and many kids could wash at the same time. We had paper towels to dry our hands. We spent a lot of time making little bubble pouches out of wet ones to pop. Lots of them were thrown up to the ceiling and stuck there, eliciting giggles. Whoever could make the biggest bubble pouch pop and then stick was the "winner".
We had a school "store" where we could buy trinkets with our allowance. It was opened in the quad during lunch time. I remember buying a pink rabbit's foot for good luck.
We kept all our supplies in our desk. Any books stayed at school unless we had homework to do. I don't recall having to bring home a book until third grade or so.
We used to have notes pinned on our shirts (in front, not on our backs), and everyone knew you didn't mess with it.
If you acted up in class, the teacher could send you to the principal's office where you sat on a bench outside his door. He had permission to spank (he had a paddle) and that was used as a warning to behave many times in class, I remember.
There was an after school recess time that lasted about an hour for kids who for whatever reason needed supervision. It was free. I used to envy those kids. My mom stayed home and expected me to walk home right away.
From what I've seen, kids today are too controlled at school. There's little time or opportunity to get the wiggles out. I'm sad to see little kids lugging home heavy backpacks full of books they don't need for the evening.
Whew-sorry that was so long and jumbled. More anecdotal than you're looking for, right?
