First Grade: A Milestone Year in Learning

Kindergarten teacher reading to children
Kindergarten teacher reading to children

First grade is a milestone year because the important skills that support reading and math will be developed. During this year, it will be critical that these skills are learned.  According to Great Schools.org: “It is a pivotal grade in which the foundation for the rest of the primary grades is set.”

First grade is a transition year as children leave behind much of the play of preschool and kindergarten. And, they begin to develop more academic skills. Just a year ago, kindergarten was a great leap forward for your child. Children began to recognize symbols and apply them to early reading and math literacy during their kindergarten year.  Now those skills and experiences will be applied and refined in first grade.  Students’ learning will be centered on the core subjects. But, two subjects will become the most important: reading and math.

The development of reading, writing and math skills will be most critical in first grade. Your child will move from prereading skills to building crucial language skills in reading, spelling and writing.

Reading and math literacy will be and are the two important milestones for first graders. Young students began to be exposed to the language of symbols in kindergarten. The understanding of symbols and symbol imagery will be very important in first grade. Symbol imagery is used for retention of sight words, fluent reading and spelling. In addition, it is used to easily recall and recognize math facts. Therefore, symbols will continue to be explored in first grade. And, students will develop a greater understanding of what these symbols mean.

Language and Literacy

Children, generally, begin to read and to develop reading comprehension in first grade. Phonics and spelling will continue to be developed, as well.  In addition, students will begin to read and write sight words. Reading material may vary from simple rhymes to classroom news. In addition, students will read patterned stories and beginner non-fiction books. As a result, most students are reading grade-level chapter books by the end of the year. And, some are reading at even more advanced levels.

Writing, like reading, takes many forms in first grade.  Journal writing and writing creative stories are examples of some writing activities. Language arts concepts are integrated throughout the first grade curriculum as students read and write in the content areas of science and social studies. Children will be asked to sound out the words they write. Often, they will invent the spelling of words as they develop their understanding of the written language.

The school year is half over by the end of January. And, most children will be taking their first solid steps toward fluid reading. Employ your teacher’s assistance to reteach necessary skills. In addition, seek the support of a private tutor if you are not satisfied or are concerned about your child’s progress. This is important because strengthening weak skills now will lead to greater academic success and improved classroom confidence later.

Last, strengthen your child’s ability to read by reading twenty minutes each night at home.  This is an important piece of the learning-to-read process. And, it will go a long way to developing your child’s love of reading.

Math Literacy

Math will continue to be very hands-on. Students will explore math using manipulatives. This approach will be combined with online learning. And, Chromebooks or iPads are commonly used. First graders will be exposed to more abstract mathematical concepts like place value. In addition, students will learn that money is based on place value and the base of 10.  Also, how to tell time and the meaning of numbers will be introduced. Examples are the concepts of: greater than, less than or equal to. Addition and subtraction problems will be studied in both the horizontal and vertical forms. Skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s will be skills to master. True or false simple equations will be studied. Reading comprehension will be applied to math word problems.  And, first graders will work with 2 and 3-dimensional geometric shapes.

Request your teacher’s assistance to reteach the necessary skills or seek the support of a private tutor (solutions.CEC@gmail.com) if you are not seeing progression.

Parents can privately subscribe to the ixl math online program which helps students build skills. Above all, students can progress at their own pace. https://www.ixl.com/math/

Also, read about the important reading and math connection. https://cecsolution.org/published-articles/