What do you expect from first-grade?
Academic skills you can expect of your first grader: Read and write high-frequency words such as where and every. Write complete sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation. Read aloud first-grade books with accuracy and understanding. Count change.
What should my child know by end of 1st grade?
By the end of 1st grade, kids should be able to:Work independently for short periods of time.Have a conversation about what a situation is like from another person's point of view.Distinguish left from right.Attempt to write and spell new words phonetically.Read and write common words such as where and every.More items...•
What level should 1st grader be reading at?
A first grader should be at a reading level between 3 to 12. Higher reading levels indicate that they're near the top of their class, but there's always room for growth. In some cases, your child might fall below or rise above the range. Practice and proper tutoring will improve their reading level.
What skills should a 1st grader know?
Write and recognize upper- and lowercase letters. Match letters to sounds, make rhymes, and recognize some words without having to sound them out (teachers refer to these as sight words, and some of the first ones kids pick are and, the, and it). Learn and use new words to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.
How many sight words should a 1st grader know?
100 sight wordsA good goal, according to child literacy expert Timothy Shanahan, is that children should master 20 sight words by the end of Kindergarten and 100 sight words by the end of First Grade.
What math should a 1st grader know?
1st and 2nd graders extend their previous understanding from kindergarten with adding and subtracting. They begin to memorize their addition and subtraction facts up to 20, as well as solve word problems using objects, drawings, and equations.
What first graders should know before 2nd grade?
Mathematic SkillsAdd and subtract numbers up to 20 (10+8 or 20-8)Understand basic rules of addition and subtraction (12+4 is the same as 4+12)Solve words problems up to two-digit numbers.Count to 120.Understand the “ones” and “tens” place.Tell the time to the hour and half-hour on an analog clock.More items...•
What is the importance of first grade?
Christopher Futcher/Getty Images. First grade is all about expanding upon developing skills your child may have picked up in kindergarten and preschool. Your first grader will gain more control over their own body and impulses and will expand their understanding of the world around him.
How to read in first grade?
First-Grade Reading and Writing 1 Read books in small groups with a teacher. 2 Practice independent reading. 3 Be able to identify ideas and details of a story, and be able to retell events of a story in order. 4 Learn words with similar patterns (such as "bat," "sat," and "cat"). 5 Become more skilled at using sounds of letters to read simple words. 6 Expand their list of "sight words" (words that are frequently used). 7 Learn how to organize their thoughts through writing. 8 Work on handwriting all upper and lowercase letters. 9 Write simple words and sentences (often still without emphasis on correct spelling); use two or three sentences to create stories. 10 Learn how to correctly use punctuation and capitalization in sentences. 11 Understand and learn common, proper, and possessive nouns as well as personal, possessive, and indefinite pronouns.
What should parents watch out for in first graders?
What Parents Should Watch out for in First Graders. Parents may want to watch for signs of anxiety and stress, and indications that children are being overwhelmed by the amount or difficulty level of homework assignments. 1 .
Why is it important to work with educators?
Your child's love of learning and discovery happens in these early school years, and it's important that you work with educators as well as your child to find a good balance and help your child tap into and maintain their enthusiasm for school and learning. Stressed Kids: Signs and Causes of Childhood Anxiety.
Is Kindergarten the new first grade?
In many classrooms, the saying, "Kindergarten is the new first grade, and first grade is the new second grade" will often apply, with first graders being expected to handle more difficult verbal and math lessons, become skilled at taking achievement tests, and spending less time on things that were more common in previous generations in the early grades like art, music, dance, development of social skills, and even physical education and recess.
What do first graders learn in the first grade?
Finally, your first grader will learn to identify different coins, understand the value of each one, and combine different amounts (for example, two nickels equals one dime).
How many words does a first grader learn?
By the time she reaches first grade, your child begins absorbing new material like a sponge. She understands at least 20,000 words, has some impressive spelling skills, and senses how words and language work. In math, she's getting faster by the week at adding and subtracting, and she's learning to solve word problems .
What can a first grader do with whole numbers?
First graders can add whole numbers with a sum of 20 or less and subtract from a whole number 20 or less, and they will be introduced to the concept of place value when adding and subtracting two-digit numbers. Help your first grader understand the importance of math in everyday life.
How to teach math to first graders?
While waiting in line, practice counting by twos and fives together. Hang up a number chart in your child's bedroom showing numbers one to 100, and find a place mat with numbers to practice counting during meals.
How many sentences should a first grader write?
By the end of the year, your child will be forming short paragraphs with at least three or four sentences.
What is the first grade number sense?
Number Sense in First Grade. By the end of the year, your child will count, read, write, and order sequential numbers up to 100. They will also learn how to compare numbers using the signs for greater than, less than, and equal to. First graders can add whole numbers with a sum of 20 or less and subtract from a whole number 20 or less, ...
How to teach a budding bookworm to read?
Give your budding bookworm plenty of opportunities to read aloud, at a level appropriate for the age of first grade students. Have him read you a short story while you're cooking, for example, or give him the important job of reading to his younger sibling.
What do kids learn in first grade?
As kids move into first grade, they find themselves moving onto problem solving, operations and number sense. Having learned the basic numbers, they now learn about numbers greater than those they can count, they do simple addition and subtraction problems – often working with physical objects – and they learn to count by 2s, 5s and 10s. ...
What do you learn in grade 1?
In grade 1, your child will be able to recognize core words, write, know the sound correspondence of most letters in the alphabet. They’ll be building on the phonemic awareness with more complicated sounds like blends and digraphs, and they’ll be learning strategies for decoding/sound out words they don’t know.
What do first graders study?
Science. Like math, science takes the first grader to the next level, asking them to focus on finding patters in the natural world . They’ll study many topics, such as magnets, animals and plants. They’ll follow the life cycle of an insect, often a butterfly.
What is grade 1?
Grade 1 is when your child enters into the big school. They’ll join the bigger kids in the playground at recess, they’ll eat in the cafeteria for the first time and they’ll learn to put their social skills to the test. This is also an “aha” year for learning.
What is a field trip for grade 1?
A popular field trip for grade 1 is a visit to the library to learn how this public institution works and to learn to borrow a book on their own.
What do kids do when they write?
Teachers will ask your kids to keep a journal, write stories and work on simple fact projects – all to have them practice their writing skills.
Why is it important to learn in first grade?
In first grade, your child will spend more time working independently on assignments. For this reason, it is necessary for children to learn how to listen well and follow directions. In first grade, children will also have more rules to follow and opportunities to take care of themselves. Reading Concepts.
What do first graders learn in reading?
Along with reading, first graders will begin to write and spell phonetically. As they learn to sound out words, they will also learn how to write in complete sentences with capitalization and punctuation. Additionally, they will be able to listen to a story and retell it in sequence (or write it). Students will also begin to write their own stories.
What should a child learn in first grade?
What Your Child Should Learn in First Grade. First grade is an exciting year for students. This school year is likely the first time your little one will feel like a “real student,” as he/she is given more independence and less playtime. First grade is when children must learn to sit a bit longer.
What is the first grade?
First grade is when children must learn to sit a bit longer. It is also the first year most students are expected to do homework. An easy way to find out what your child is expected to learn in first grade is to review your state’s academic standards. However, some necessary skills are thought to be mastered by the time your child graduates ...
When should a child be fluent in reading?
Not all children become fluent readers by the end of the first grade, but most take their first solid steps toward fluid reading.”. Therefore, you should expect your child to be able to read several high-frequency words or sight words, as well as grade-level appropriate books by the end of the school year. Writing Concepts.
Is it important to encourage first graders to succeed?
And, the best way to encourage success is to praise them.
5: There's Just One Me!
In the toddler years, self-knowledge is not much more complex than "I'm hungry," or "I'm tired." An understanding of self develops slowly, bit by bit. In preschool and kindergarten, children begin to develop a sense of who they are and see that other children are different from them.
4: I Know What That Means!
First graders will hone reading skills until they're curling up with a book independently.
3: Time Has So Many Parts!
You've probably developed some innovative ways to explain that dinner isn't for another hour (Is dinner now? Now? How about now?) and that Disney World is happening in a month (No, not yet, it's only been two days). This year, your child will begin to develop a real understanding of time and its complexities.
1: I'm in Charge!
By first grade, your student will be making decisions and taking charge.

Math
Reading
- First grade is the year when many students seemingly learn to read overnight. By the time kindergarten is over, your child should be able to recognize their name and some other core wordsin print. They should also be able to write, recognize, and correspond to the sound of most of the letters in the alphabet. Even if they are not reading yet, your child likely has a good grasp o…
Writing
- Your child's fine motor skills have improved a great deal since kindergarten, providing the control needed to really begin writing. In first grade, expect your child to begin formal work on handwriting skillsin addition to creative writing tasks. Some teachers focus on inventive spelling, allowing children to write the sounds they hear in words, while also instructing students using weekly spe…
Science
- Like math, science in first grade focuses on finding patterns. However, the patterns explored are in the natural world. The three units of science study covered are: 1. Earth sciences (air and weather) 2. Life sciences (plants and animals) 3. Physical sciences (solids and liquids) Your child will spend time learning about plants, insects, and their common characteristics and may even f…
Social Studies
- Expect your child to begin exploring the concept of communitybeyond just your family. They'll learn about how neighborhoods make up cities, cities make up states, and states make up nations, with a focus on how all of those components work together to create a cohesive unit.
A Word from Verywell
- The first grade curriculum is designed to meet and advance the skills that are expected of a child this age. Of course, every child is different. If you are concerned that your child is not meeting the markers described above, speak with their teacher.