What should my first grader know – reading

When it comes to homeschooling, each age range has it’s own challenges. I’ve talked to countless parents who have jumped into homeschooling their older children later in life but now they have a younger one joining the ranks. What is their biggest fear? Teaching them how to read. The older ones learned in school. They received that basic knowledge elsewhere so at this point mom is simply building on that foundation. What do we do when we, as parents, don’t feel qualified to be the one to now build that foundation with younger siblings.

If your child is six or seven years old, where should they be as far as reading goes?

Every child is different. The joy of homeschooling is that we can meet each child where they are at and then move at their own pace. Below is a list of basic skills and understanding that a typical first grader usually has. If you are curious about whether your child is learning what the average first grader knows, here is a general list.

• Knows All Uppercase and Lowercase Letters in Manuscript.
• Knows the symbols and the sounds for all short and long vowel sounds.
• Can Recognise the beginning, middle and ending sounds of words.
• Has the ability to sound out consonant blends (bl, tr, etc).
• Is able to sound out one syllable words.
• Can divide words into syllables.
• Should be introduced to antonyms, synonyms,homonyms, and homophones.
• Works on comprehension skills. Ask the child if they understand the context of what was read. Probe with questions.
• Teach the parts of a book. {Title page, table of contents, body, glossary, index}.
• Ability to recognise sight words.

Dolch List Of Sight Words for First Grade

some
stop
take
thank
them
then
think
walk
were
when

Students at this age oftentimes still read with help, and that’s okay. Here is a list of suggested literature for First Grade.

• Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff
• The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
• Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni
• Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
• The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss
• There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback

Reading aloud to your child, even in first grade opens up a world of wonder to them. New vocabulary, story conflict and so much more. Here are some suggested read aloud books for First Grade.

• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
• Little House In The Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Winnie The Pooh by A.A Milne
• The Mouse And The Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
• Heidi by Johanna Spyri
• Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
• Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter
• The Railway Children by Evelyn Nesbit
  

First grade is a time of building blocks. It may be messy at first teaching the basic skills, but one day it will “click,” if it hasn’t already. Before you know it, your child will be sitting in a corner somewhere giggling at a joke they’re reading in a chapter book. That day will come!