Learning to Read in First Grade

Is your kiddo struggling to make the transition from Kindergarten to First Grade? Are you worried they're falling behind on their literacy? Don't know where to start with getting them caught up? Below, we'll provide key details that will get you informed on early literacy and empowered with tools to get your kiddo back on track! Our reading tutors can help!

Foundational Literacy Skills

Phonological Awareness

Rhyme Recognition: Identifying words that rhyme, such as "cat" and "hat."
Syllable Counting: Clapping hands for each syllable in a word, like counting three claps for "banana" (ba-na-na).
Sound Matching: Hearing a set of words and identifying which two start with the same sound, like "ball" and "bat."
Onset and Rime Blending: Combining the initial sound with the rime, such as blending "s" with "and" to say "sand."

Phonics and Word Recognition

Phonics and word recognition are essential skills that can significantly enhance a child's reading ability. Here are a few practical examples:

Long and Short Vowels: Differentiating between vowel sounds, such as recognizing the short "a" in "cat" versus the long "a" in "cake."
Blending Sounds: Teaching children to sound out letters in a word and blend them together, such as /c/ - /a/ - /t/ to form "cat."
Common Sight Words: Identifying high-frequency words that don't always follow standard phonetic rules, such as "the," "is," and "was," which appear frequently in texts.
Word Families: Recognizing patterns in words that share the same ending, like "cat," "bat," and "hat," to help children predict and read new words.

By incorporating these examples into daily practice, parents and educators can help reinforce phonics and word recognition skills in a fun and engaging manner.

Fluency

Fluency acts as a crucial link between word recognition and reading comprehension. Fluent readers recognize words and read with inflection, which significantly enhances their understanding of the text. In contrast, non-fluent readers often read slowly, causing difficulty in comprehending what they read. This lack of fluency can diminish a child's enjoyment and motivation to read, creating a cycle of disinterest and reduced practice that hinders skill improvement. Furthermore, mastering fluency is essential as students progress into middle and high school, where students transition from "learning to read" into "reading to learn".

Understanding First Grade Reading Standards

Montana Content Standards for Language Arts and Literacy, provided by the Office of Public Instruction, outline specific learning goals for first grade students such as:

RF.1.2 Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
- RF.1.2.a Distinguish long from short vowel sounds in spoken single-syllable words.
- RF.1.2.b Orally produce single-syllable words by blending sounds (phonemes), including consonant blends.
- RF.1.2.c Isolate and pronounce initial, medial vowel, and final sounds (phonemes) in spoken single-syllable words.
- RF.1.2.d Segment spoken single-syllable words into their complete sequence of individual sounds (phonemes).
RF.1.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
- RF.1.3.a Know the spelling-sound correspondences for common consonant digraphs.
- RF.1.3.b Decode regularly spelled one-syllable words.
- RF.1.3.c Know final -e and common vowel team conventions for representing long vowel sounds.
- RF.1.3.d Use knowledge that every syllable must have a vowel sound to determine the number of syllables in a printed word.
- RF.1.3.e Decode two-syllable words following basic patterns by breaking the words into syllables.
RF.1.4 Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
- RF.1.4.a Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.
- RF.1.4.b Read on-level text orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction's guide on early literacy instruction, as referenced above, build on the aforementioned foundational reading skills.

In first grade, students should begin understanding sounds and syllables. They should be able to differentiate between vowel sounds, long and short. First graders should also be able to break apart single syllable words into their individual sounds and break two-syllable words into smaller parts. Students' phonological awareness and understanding of phonics should equip them to begin reading age-appropriate texts with fluency and comprehend what they are reading.

We Can Help!

If your child is struggling with any of the grade-level appropriate reading and language arts standards, Big Sky tutoring can help! Our reading tutors are committed to ensuring that your child builds a strong foundation in reading by focusing on the foundational skills listed above. We align our tutoring with the Montana Content Standards for Literacy and utilize research backed methodologies for reading instruction.

Through systematic and explicit instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, and word recognition, For every first grade student, we create a fun, engaging, and supportive learning environment that not only helps students decode and comprehend text, but also fosters a genuine love for reading. Trust that our dedicated tutors are equipped to guide your first grade child towards literacy success and lifelong learning.

Book Your Tutoring Session Today!

If you're ready to help your first grader thrive in reading, don't hesitate to reach out! Book a session with us today and take the first step towards building a bright future for your child filled with confidence and a love for reading. Contact us now to schedule your first tutoring appointment!

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