What your child learns in 1st grade in Alabama
In 1st grade, reading and writing take off. Children sound out words, read short books and write simple sentences. In math they add and subtract within 20, learn place value to 120 and tell time. Social studies looks at community and state: leaders and laws, jobs, and finding Alabama on a map.
1st grade subjects in the Alabama Course of Study
Math
Focus areas
- Numbers and operations: adding and subtracting within 20, and place value to 120
- Measurement, data and geometry: measuring length, telling time, halves and fourths, and reading simple graphs
- Student mathematical practices: making sense of problems and explaining reasoning
16 units, including Numbers to 20, Make 10, Adding, Take Away.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading: phonics, reading with fluency, and retelling stories and facts
- Writing, speaking and listening: writing sentences and short pieces, and sharing ideas
- Vocabulary and language: building word knowledge and using grammar, spelling and punctuation
13 units, including Blend It, Short Vowels, Word Families, Sh, Ch, Th.
Science
Focus areas
- Light and sound, plant and animal parts, parents and young, and patterns in the sky
- Science and engineering practices: planning simple tests and designing solutions
- Engineering design: solving real problems in Alabama and beyond
12 units, including Light & Sound, Light and Sound, Signals Far Away, Animal Survival.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- Course: Living and Working Together in Community and State
- Leaders, laws and good citizens
- Jobs, saving and spending
15 units, including My Community, Respect & Inclusion, Community Services, Earning, Saving & Sharing.
Printable 1st grade sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
What to look for on the report card
Look for comments on reading simple books, spelling common words, adding and subtracting, and taking part in class.
Alabama has no statewide report-card scale in 1st grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
Alabama's learning practices apply in every grade. Read about Learning practices.
The four practice steps in 1st grade
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the content standards. Most answers still need a hint or a second try.
- At home: Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Practice shows a partial understanding of the content standards. Some answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Practice shows a solid understanding of the content standards. Most answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Practice shows a deep understanding of the content standards, including harder, unfamiliar questions.
- At home: Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Ready for 1st grade?
1st grade builds on what your child practiced in Kindergarten. If a skill feels shaky, a few short practice sessions before or early in the year can help:
- Math: Count to 10, Make 5 and 10, Add & Take Away, More, Less, Same, Shapes & Sizes
- English Language Arts: Letter Partners, First Sounds, Rhyme Time, Clap the Beat, Sight Words
- Science: Push & Pull, Make It Work, What Living Things Need, Living Things, What Living Things Need
- Social Studies: My Jobs, Rules & Leaders, Good Citizens, Families, Symbols & Holidays, Money & Work
Common questions
1st grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Alabama Course of Study. In 1st grade, reading and writing take off. Children sound out words, read short books and write simple sentences. In math they add and subtract within 20, learn place value to 120 and tell time. Social studies looks at community and state: leaders and laws, jobs, and finding Alabama on a map.
Alabama has no statewide report-card scale in 1st grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding.
Practice shows a solid understanding of the content standards. Most answers are right on the first try. At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
1st grade builds on Kindergarten. In math, that means Count to 10, Make 5 and 10, Add & Take Away. In English language arts, that means Letter Partners, First Sounds, Rhyme Time.
About 10 minutes a day of short practice works better than long sessions, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Count everyday things out loud: stairs, grapes, steps to the car. Read aloud every day and let your child finish familiar phrases. Praise effort, and stop on a success.
Practice 1st grade skills with Gradelings
Kind hints, no ads, and reports in the language of the Alabama report card. Subscribe now, or try it free for 30 days with no card.