What to expect in first grade...
Reading:
- Recognizes the features of a sentence (for example: first words, capitalization, and ending punctuation).
- Recognizes the spelling and sound of two letters that represent one sound, such as th, ch, wh (these are also known as digraphs).
- Learns to read regularly spelled one-syllable words.
- Understands how an “e” at the end of a word changes a vowel within the word.
- Breaks up longer words into syllables in order to read them.
- Reads grade-level words that have “irregular” spellings.
- Knows the difference between and reads fiction and non-fiction texts with purpose and an understanding of the plot and important ideas and characters.
- Talks about and answers questions about the text he reads.
- Reads texts aloud at an appropriate speed and with expression.
- Compares different characters, events, or texts.
- Understands the purpose of and uses common features in a book, such as headings, tables of contents, and glossaries.
- Begins to read (grade appropriate) poetry and identifies words and phrases that relate to emotions and the senses.
Math:
- Adds and subtracts numbers 1-20, solves word problems by using objects, drawings, and traditional equations (with the plus and minus signs).
- Adds 3 numbers that add to a number up to 20.
- Solves addition and subtraction problems by adding up or subtracting smaller numbers, for example: 10+4 = 10+2+2 and 15-6 = 15-2-2-2.
- Learns the relationship between addition and subtraction, for example: 2+3=5 and 5-3=2.
- Counts out and groups objects in order to solve single digit addition and subtraction problems.
- Counts and writes the numbers 1 to 120, starting from any number less than 120.
- Understands and creates numbers using 10 as a base, for example: 12 = 1 ten and 2 1’s.
- Compares two 2 digit numbers using the <, >, and = signs.
- Adds up to100 using objects and the concept of 10’s.
- Subtracts or adds 10 to a 2 digit number in her mind, without counting, and subtracts by 10 from numbers 1-90, using concrete objects or tools.
- Orders three objects by length.
- Begins to tell and write time using both digital and analog clocks.
- Understands data; specifically, the total number of data points, how many are in each category, and how many more or less there are in a category.
- Understands the definition of and difference between shapes and creates shapes using this knowledge.
- Creates 2 and 3 dimensional shapes.
- Breaks up circles and rectangles into two and four equal parts, and understands that the parts are halves, fourths, and quarters, and that smaller parts make up larger ones.
Social Studies:
- Learns and talks about his own family, different types of families in the present and in history, and his community.
- Uses and studies maps to locate his own community as well as others.
- Develops communication and conversation skills.
- Creates both group and individual work to represent what he has learned, using writing, illustrations, and graphic organizers such as Venn diagrams and T-charts.
- Begins to explore the role of technology and media.
- Gains an understanding of the importance of rules, citizenship, and democracy in the classroom and in his community.
- Learns about American holidays and important events and days.
Science:
- Explores and experiments with the world around her and with objects provided by the teacher.
- Learns new facts about a variety of topics including: the human body, ocean and sea life, animals, measurement, electricity and magnetism, sound, and matter (the difference between solids, gases and liquids).
- Makes observations and records what she sees and learns using graphs, pictures, and words.
- Uses her 5 senses to observe and learn about objects.