Grade 1 English Language Arts

Recognize sentence boundaries and features: first word, capitalization, spacing, and ending punctuation.

Know spelling-sound correspondences for common consonant digraphs such as sh, ch, th, wh, and ph when grade-appropriate.

Decode regularly spelled one-syllable words with short vowels, blends, and familiar consonant patterns.

Encode regular one-syllable words by mapping heard phonemes to letters and common spelling patterns.

Form legible upper- and lowercase letters and match letter forms reliably.

Listen to short classroom directions, carry them out in order, and ask/answer clarification questions when needed.

Use final-e and common vowel-team conventions to read long-vowel one-syllable words.

Use the idea that every syllable has a vowel sound to determine syllable count in printed words.

Break two-syllable words into manageable chunks and blend them back together.

Read base words with common inflectional endings such as -s, -ed, -ing, -er, and -est when supported.

Recognize and read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled and high-frequency words automatically.

Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding, not just word-by-word decoding.

Use context to confirm or correct word recognition and understanding; reread when meaning breaks down.

Use conventional spelling for common patterns and frequent irregular words; use phonetic spelling for untaught words.

Recognize a base word and common inflectional form and use the ending to understand basic meaning or time/number.

Ask and answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions about key details in literary text.

Retell major events in sequence and demonstrate understanding of a story’s central message or lesson.

Describe characters, settings, and major events using relevant story details.

Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

Identify who is telling a story at different points and distinguish narrator from characters when the text makes this clear.

Use illustrations and text details together to describe characters, settings, and events.

Compare and contrast the adventures or experiences of characters in stories.

Explain basic differences between texts that tell stories and texts that give information, using a wide range of text types.

Ask and answer questions about key details in informational text.

Identify the main topic of an informational text and retell/select key details.

Describe connections between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.

Know and use headings, tables of contents, glossaries, labels, icons, and similar features to locate information.

Distinguish information provided by pictures/illustrations from information provided by words.

Identify the reasons an author gives to support a point in a text.

Identify basic similarities and differences between two informational texts on the same topic.

Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of an unknown or multiple-meaning word or phrase.

Identify frequently occurring root/base words and their inflectional forms to support word meaning.

Sort words into categories; define by key attributes; make real-life connections; distinguish basic shades of meaning.

Use common, proper, possessive nouns and personal, possessive, and indefinite pronouns appropriately in basic sentences.

Use verbs to convey past, present, and future; use singular/plural nouns with matching verbs in basic sentences.

Use frequently occurring modifiers and linking words to make Grade 1 sentences clearer and more complete.

Produce and expand complete simple and compound declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences in response to prompts.

Capitalize sentence beginnings, dates, names, and the pronoun I; use end punctuation and grade-appropriate commas/conventions.

Write narratives that recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details, use temporal words, and provide closure.

Write informative/explanatory texts that name a topic, supply facts, and provide a sense of closure.

Write opinion pieces that introduce the topic/book, state an opinion, give a reason, and provide closure.

With guidance/support, focus on a topic, respond to questions/suggestions, and add or replace details to strengthen writing.

Apply Grade 1 spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and sentence conventions during short connected writing.

Participate in collaborative conversations, follow agreed-upon rules, build on others’ talk, and ask questions to continue discussion.

Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says to gather additional information or clarify something not understood.

Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.

Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation and use language that fits a simple audience/purpose.

Participate in shared research and writing projects on a focused question or topic.

With support, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

With guidance/support, use simple digital tools to produce, revise, and publish writing, including collaboration when appropriate.

State an idea or opinion and support it with a relevant reason; respond to feedback or a peer question.