First grade might seem like the beginning of schooling to some people. But even at this young age, there are some things that a first-grader absolutely has to know even before they reach this level of education.
The question is, what should a first-grader know? Well, that is what we are going to go over in this article. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in and get started!
Reading And Spelling Comprehension
At grade one, a child should have a basic understanding of several things. They will not be perfect, and some children will learn at different paces.
But in general, these are some of the things that they should have a basic grasp of:
They should be able to identify and have a basic understanding of some sight word vocabulary. These are basic words such as ‘a’, ‘if, ‘of’, ‘the’, and other simple words.
They should be able to recall the events in a story in order.
They should be able to sound out new words.
They should know the alphabet and basic words and letters.
They should be able to recognize lowercase and uppercase letters.
They should have an understanding of rhyming words.
They should be able to spell more than one hundred and thirty words.
They should know the difference between facts and fiction.
Reading is not something that everyone will take to very easily. Some children are dyslexic and will not be at this level for reading.
Handwriting Skills
Being able to write, even badly, is an essential skill that even adults will need every day. But for a first-grader, these are the basic handwriting skills that they should have:
Use letters and shapes to detect different objects.
Write basic complete sentences.
Write and make simple words and sentences.
Write both uppercase and lowercase letters.
Write their own names.
These are some basic skills that a child going into first grade should have at least a basic understanding of.
Fine Motor Skills
Do not underestimate the importance of fine motor skills. At this stage of schooling, a child should be able to hold a pencil, crayon, marker, or other writing implement properly.
On top of that, they should be able to hold and use scissors properly. This of course does not apply to children that have motor issues.
But, the average kid should at least have these basic motor skill abilities.
Mathematic Skills
Mathematics is important to understand even at this young age. It is for this reason that even a first-grader should have basic math skills.
Below are some of the main things a first-grader should know in regard to math:
They should be able to use things to break up numbers that are less than or equal to ten. For example, two groups of three are equal to six or a group of four, and a group of two is also equal to six.
They should be able to do basic addition and subtraction, or at least have an understanding of what both addition and subtraction are.
They should be able to use objects or draw pictures to indicate addition and subtraction.
They should be able to add or subtract using numbers between one and ten.
They should be able to recognize different patterns and what comes after
They should know what units or tools are used to measure time and temperature.
They should know and be able to count to thirty.
They should be able to recognize shapes.
Basic money counting skills.
Once again, learning math does not gel for everyone. As such, some children can exceed this level at this age, or they may not be quite up to this level.
Social Studies Skills
This is a subject that most children will have started learning back in kindergarten. They will have learned a bunch about historical events, but at the basic level they should understand the following :
They should know about commemorative holidays and the people that celebrate them.
They should know the important figures in American histories, such as Abraham Lincoln.
They should know what history is and at least some of the events from the past.
They should have an idea of what instruments are used to locate places. E.g., maps
They should know broad categories from the past, present, and future.
They should have a basic understanding of American symbolism.
They should have an idea of basic cultures and the traditions they follow.
Each child may differ in the level of information that they retain from social studies. But they should have a basic understanding and memory of these topics.
Science Skills
Science is a core subject for many people. That benign said you do not need to know everything in first grade. You should just know the basics, which are as follows:
They should understand the sun and how it is essential for life on Earth.
They should know the four seasons and the climates associated with them.
They should be able to do easy experiments.
They should understand how recycling and pollution affect the planet.
They should know the difference between living things and nonliving things.
These are basic scientific principles that most young children entering first grade should really understand.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning what first-graders should know. At the end of the day, with homeschooling, it is essential to go over your core subjects.
But you can add supplementary topics which will improve your child’s base knowledge on various topics. What you want other topics you want to cover is entirely up to you.
For example, you could go over the Bible, art, a second language, and more. Just find something that your kid is interested in or something that you think will broaden their horizons.
If you have enjoyed reading this article, you should absolutely check out our site. We have tons of fantastic articles available.
Some of which you are sure to find interesting and maybe even helpful. You won’t know unless you peruse our site! So, hope to it!
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