First grade is the gateway to literacy. As the year progresses, first graders read more fluently and write with more confidence. During this year of exploration, first-graders also develop a mathematical number sense, understanding of the scientific process, and an appreciation of the world around them.
In English Language Arts, First-grade Students:
Read with Accuracy
- Know basic sight vocabulary
- Use phonics, grammar, and meaning to read unknown words
- Read with fluency
Use Comprehension Strategies
- Recall facts and information
- Use higher-level strategies: Predicting, Identifying Main Idea, Making Inferences, and Drawing Conclusions
- Read independently for pleasure and information
- Read grade-level text
Write
- Use steps of the writing process: Organizing, Drafting, Revising, and Sharing
- Use traits of writing: Ideas, Organization, Word Choice, Conventions, voice, sentence fluency, and sharing
- Try different forms of writing: Personal Narrative, Nonfiction, Report, How-To, poem, letter, Opinion Writing
In Math, First-grade Students:
Work with Operations and Algebraic Thinking
- Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction
- Understand and apply properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction
- Add and subtract within 20
- Work with addition and subtraction equations
Work with Number and Operations in Base Ten
- Extend the counting sequence
- Understand place value
- Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract
Work with Measurement and Data
- Measure lengths indirectly and by iterating length units
- Tell and write time
- Represent and interpret data
- Work with money
Work with Geometry
- Reason with shapes and their attributes
I can't emphasize enough the importance of parental support when it comes to a child's success. You are the #1 teacher. Whether you're working with math facts and sight words on flash cards, timing for fluency, or simply reading a bedtime book, you are giving your child a wonderful gift. You are teaching them that learning is positive and you want them to succeed. They love you and want you to be proud of them. What could be more motivating than that? :)
Phonemic awareness is an EXTREMELY important skill! Phonemic awareness is being able to identify individual sounds within a word. No letters -- just sounds. This is an essential skill needed for writing. We have been working on this by using our fingers as scissors to "cut" each sound we hear as a word is said orally. "Fast," for example has f-a-s-t (4 sounds). This is easily practiced at home (or in the car, or supermarket) by simply saying a word and asking your child to say the sounds he/she hears. Keep the words to one syllable, but include some blends (like st, cl, dr) to make it challenging. The more automatic this skill becomes, the better writer your child will be!
In English Language Arts, First-grade Students:
Read with Accuracy
- Know basic sight vocabulary
- Use phonics, grammar, and meaning to read unknown words
- Read with fluency
Use Comprehension Strategies
- Recall facts and information
- Use higher-level strategies: Predicting, Identifying Main Idea, Making Inferences, and Drawing Conclusions
- Read independently for pleasure and information
- Read grade-level text
Write
- Use steps of the writing process: Organizing, Drafting, Revising, and Sharing
- Use traits of writing: Ideas, Organization, Word Choice, Conventions, voice, sentence fluency, and sharing
- Try different forms of writing: Personal Narrative, Nonfiction, Report, How-To, poem, letter, Opinion Writing
In Math, First-grade Students:
Work with Operations and Algebraic Thinking
- Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction
- Understand and apply properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction
- Add and subtract within 20
- Work with addition and subtraction equations
Work with Number and Operations in Base Ten
- Extend the counting sequence
- Understand place value
- Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract
Work with Measurement and Data
- Measure lengths indirectly and by iterating length units
- Tell and write time
- Represent and interpret data
- Work with money
Work with Geometry
- Reason with shapes and their attributes
I can't emphasize enough the importance of parental support when it comes to a child's success. You are the #1 teacher. Whether you're working with math facts and sight words on flash cards, timing for fluency, or simply reading a bedtime book, you are giving your child a wonderful gift. You are teaching them that learning is positive and you want them to succeed. They love you and want you to be proud of them. What could be more motivating than that? :)
Phonemic awareness is an EXTREMELY important skill! Phonemic awareness is being able to identify individual sounds within a word. No letters -- just sounds. This is an essential skill needed for writing. We have been working on this by using our fingers as scissors to "cut" each sound we hear as a word is said orally. "Fast," for example has f-a-s-t (4 sounds). This is easily practiced at home (or in the car, or supermarket) by simply saying a word and asking your child to say the sounds he/she hears. Keep the words to one syllable, but include some blends (like st, cl, dr) to make it challenging. The more automatic this skill becomes, the better writer your child will be!