Language Arts
In First Grade, language arts instruction builds on prior reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills to help students become independent readers and writers.
Reading
Phonics continues to be a major focus. Students learn and practice rules for recognizing and decoding sounds that make up words, and apply these rules to sound out more complex words. They also become more proficient readers capable of decoding and comprehending a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction texts. Through direct instruction and independent practice, students learn decoding skills, comprehension strategies, and work to improve their individual reading levels.
Writing and Spelling
Students begin to learn the writing process and are encouraged to explore and generate their own ideas. First grade students work on putting together clear, complete sentences on a range of topics. They begin with the pre-writing process as they write or retell stories that include characters, setting, and a beginning, middle, and end. As they learn how to write for different purposes, students focus on applying language structures and conventions to their writing. Throughout the year, first grade students explore common rules for regularly spelled words.
