1st Grade: Learning to Read
You came to this page looking for advice on how to help your 1st grader.
If you do nothing else but get familiar with what they are being asked to do, you will quickly see your connection around their learning deepen.
You can start with our free checklist of learning targets for the year. This is a great reference when checking homework or as a topic of conversation in the car.
Paying attention to their learning is the most critical thing you can do.
The 4 Habits
Our Approach for Parents to dive in.
These practices allow you to dive right into any of the math and language standards in your grade level with effortless, bite-sized practice that builds skill fluency and confidence.
Modeling
Our most powerful habit. Grab a blank page, use our prompts, and show your child how to approach a new skill. This direct, stress-free connection is the fastest way to ensure grade-level mastery.
CarTalk
Turn your daily drive into a classroom. Use quick practice games to solidify math facts and phonics, prompt socratic reasoning, or use our SEL cards to help your child navigate friendships and emotions.
Listen and Write
Use these cards to supercharge reading skills. You say the sounds, words, or sentences, and your child writes them down—building the exact phonetic foundation they need to read with ease.
StoryTime
Whether at bedtime or on the weekend, elevate your reading routine. Our cards give you the exact questions to ask to build deep comprehension, ensuring your student is ready to lead classroom discussions.
Using the Habits in 1st grade
We have put together a program to help you tackle all these many learning targets using just our 4 habits. Imagine using a car ride or two a week to develop higher level thinking with Socratic Dialogues.
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Here is a look at the scope of the program in 1st grade.
Math Habits
M1Mental Math
M2Number BondsM3Place ValueM4Add and Subtract to 120M5ShapesM6Telling TimeM7Word Problems ModelLanguage Habits
L1Blending Sounds into WordsL2Long VowelsL3Syllables
L4Sight WordsL5SentencesL6VerbsL7Nouns and Pronouns
L8FluencyL9Asking and Answering QuestionsL10ComprehensionL11Author's PurposeL12VocabularyProjects
P1How-To GuideP2Small Moment StoryP3Taking Inventory
P4Opinion Writing to Compare StoriesP5Research & Informational WritingSEL
SEL 1ListeningSEL 2AgencySEL 3EmpathySEL 4ForgivenessSEL 5Noticing Problems InsideSEL 6Solving ProblemsSEL 7Being a ScholarA sample of what our activities look like.
We have included a mixed sampler of the different activities we have in 1st grade. Give one a try!
Mixed Sampler
A custom sampler pulling one card or skill from each subject — Math, Language, Projects, and SEL — each keeping its own subject color.
M1Math
Mental Math — Add and Subtract by 10s
I can add and subtract multiples of 10 mentally.
OA.1.1 · NBT.1.4 · NBT.1.6
Prompt 2 — Let's Add and Subtract by 10s
• Give them examples of adding and subtracting by tens and discuss the patterns they see.
Which numbers change and which stay the same?
45 - 10 = 35
53 + 10 = 63
18 + 30 = 48
Play Tennis! Click for a tutorial.
M4Math
Add and Subtract to 120 — Using an Array
I can add and subtract within 120 using an array model.
NBT.1.4 · OA.1.6
Skill 1 — Adding and Subtracting Using an Array
• After creating an array for a number like 26, write an addition equation like 26+8.
• Show how you can add 8 dots, completing one of the 10s and continuing to the next row to 34.
• Using a previous 10 frame number, model a subtraction equation like 34-6.
• Show how you can cross out 6 dots and move up to the previous row.
• Count the remaining dots to find 28.
Math Generator• Watch that they keep track of the amount of 10s and ones as they count backwards and forwards.
• This may take some time to master, so keep watching until they are finding the correct answer 3 times in a row.
L1Language
Blending Sounds into Words — Blending & Segmenting CVC Words
I can blend and segment CVC words by sound.
RF.1.2a · RF.1.3a · W.1.1a
Skill 2 — Blending and Segmenting CVC Words
• Regularly spelled (Consonant/Vowel/Consonant) words are where to go once you have the letters:
• Use the example of BUS to model how to count out the three sounds you hear with your fingers
B, U, S.
• Then write the letters as you say B, U, S again.
• Have them try this on another word like:
BIG
What's the first sound you hear? What's the middle vowel sound? What's the last sound?
• Repeat this with more examples:
Cat Dog Red Bug Pit
• Once you see mastery, try being tricky and switching vowels to make new words
PIN, PEN, PAN
SIT, SET, SAT
L10Language
Comprehension — Clarify
I can use strategies to clarify confusion while reading.
RL. 1.2, RL.1.3
Skill 2 — Clarify
• As they read, hold your finger to each word and observe your child for any sign of confusion or stumble in pronunciation.
• When a confusion arises, ask them to stop reading and use one of the following strategies:
Let's look for clues in other words in the sentence, any pictures
• Here is an example of this thinking you can use to model:
The bird flew up to feed the squirming aphids to her young.
Birds might eat insects or plants. Insects would squirm.
Aphids might be an insect?
Let's look for clues in the word, its root or any suffix, prefix.
• Use this example of breaking apart a word to see its meaning:
Careful = If I know the word care and the suffix "ful," then I can guess that careful is being full of care.
Informational Text GeneratorUse our Informational Text Generator to create a grade-level nonfiction passage on a topic they like.
Book Quiz
P1Projects
How-To Guide
Write clear instructions explaining how to complete a task or routine.
W1.2 · L1.2b · L1.3
Card A — How to Write a How-To Guide
• Use the exemplar to discuss how instruction manuals are organized:
• They take a larger task and break it into smaller steps.
• They are short and clear sentences.
• There is often a combination of pictures, words and often keys
Learning to tie your shoes takes practice, but you can do it! Follow these simple steps:
Step 1: First hold one lace in each hand. Cross them to make an "X" shape.
Step 2: Take one lace and tuck it under the other. Pull both ends tight to make a knot.
Step 3: Make a loop with one lace that looks like a bunny ear. Hold it tight!
Step 4: Next, take the other lace and wrap it around your bunny ear.
Step 5: Push the lace through the little hole you made to make a second bunny ear.
Step 6: Last, grab both bunny ears and pull them tight!
You did it! Now your shoes are ready for a big day of playing.
• Find other examples of How-to Guides around the house,
Toy instruction manuals
Furniture assembly manuals
YouTube tutorials
• Guide them to choose a familiar task or chore of which they are an "Expert".
Making a snack
Brushing teeth
Building with LEGO
Feeding a pet
• They can think about the steps to complete this task for next time.
Card B — Drafting Instructions
• Use the exemplar on Card A to remind them of their goal.
• Point out how each step starts with a verb.
• Point out sequence words (first, next, last)
• Clear words to avoid confusion
• Thinking about the reader's experience at each step
• Use the notebook to allow them to begin drafting.
• Have them say step one out loud, and once you confirm, they can write "Step 1" and the sentence.
• Gradually allow your child to write the following steps independently.
• Remind them to:
• Say the sentence before writing it
• Capitalize the first letter
• Make good word choices
• Keep the steps in order
• Don't try to correct their spelling, it's good for them to practice as long as you can see that they are attempting to write all the sounds in the word.
Card C — Revising & Publishing
• First test the draft directions with another family member or friend.
• Ask for feedback from them:
Were the directions clear?
Did any steps cause confusion?
• Model how to take notes on this input and revise unclear wording and improve sentence clarity.
• When ready, set them up with paper and crayons to publish the final version with:
Illustrations
Labels
Numbered steps
• Co-creating a Google Slides/PowerPoint can be a fun way to help them sequence steps with images and directions
SEL 1SEL
Listening
I know how to Listen to learn from others.
Look at the image of the listener on the back of this card together.
What do you notice about her eyes?
What do you notice about her hands?
What do you notice about her mouth?
How does this help your brain and ears do their job in understanding the speaker?
What can you do if you are having trouble listening?
How the Learning Targets Connect Long Term
As you get more comfortable with where your student sits in their grade level’s learning targets, you may want to explore the grade above or below. It’s good to see what they have learned so far, and where they are going. Try our Learning Target Maps below:
Coherence map, kindergarten through 6th grade
Math: how skills connect
Pick a domain and a grade to see the year before, this year, and next year side by side. Tap one or more standards to light up how they connect.
Domain
Grade
Standards are the Common Core State Standards, K–6 (© 2010 National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers). Plain-language wording is a family-friendly summary; the code with each one points to the official text.
Coherence map, kindergarten through 6th grade
Reading & Language: how skills connect
Pick a domain and a grade to see the year before, this year, and next year side by side. Tap one or more standards to light up how they connect.
Domain
Grade
Standards are the Common Core State Standards, K–6 (© 2010 National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers). Plain-language wording is a family-friendly summary; the code with each one points to the official text.
Reading progresses at different levels for every kid. If you try our Literacy Screener using our Listen and Write Habit, you can place where they are along this journey and start having a real impact!