What your child learns in 1st grade in Texas
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 count coins. Social studies looks at families, maps, and Texas and US symbols and celebrations.
1st grade subjects in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
Math
Focus areas
- Number and operations: place value to 120, adding and subtracting within 20, and the values of coins
- Algebraic reasoning: skip counting, 10 more and 10 less, and the equal sign
- Geometry, measurement and data: shapes, halves and fourths, length, telling time and graphs
16 units, including Numbers to 20, Numbers to 100, Count It Up, Jump by Tens.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Foundational language skills: phonics with blends, digraphs, long vowels and vowel teams, and word endings
- Comprehension, response and genres: characters, plot and setting, and the main topic of information texts
- Author's purpose and craft, and composition: complete sentences with capitals, end marks and past and present verbs
17 units, including Blend It, Short Vowels, Word Families, Sh, Ch, Th.
Science
Focus areas
- Sorting objects, heating and cooling, pushes and pulls
- Seasons, soil, bodies of water and saving water
- Living and nonliving things, food chains and animal life cycles
11 units, including Length, Area & Weight, Objects & Structures, Living Things, Ideas from Nature.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- History: where holidays come from, and people who shaped Texas and the nation
- Geography: directions, simple maps, and Texas and the United States on maps and globes
- Economics and government: goods and services, choices, rules, laws and public officials
15 units, including Maps, Our Land, My Community, Community Services.
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.
Texas 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.
The TEKS process skills apply in every grade. Read about Process skills.
The four practice steps in 1st grade
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the learning 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 learning 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 learning 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 learning 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, Numbers to 20, See It Fast, More, Less, Same, Make 5 and 10
- English Language Arts: Letter Partners, First Sounds, Rhyme Time, Clap the Beat, Sight Words
- Science: What Living Things Need, Animal Features, Materials, Weather & Seasons, My Five Senses
- Social Studies: All About Me, Families, Needs & Wants, My Jobs, Rules & Leaders, Places Near Me
Common questions
1st grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). 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 count coins. Social studies looks at families, maps, and Texas and US symbols and celebrations.
Texas 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 learning 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, Numbers to 20, See It Fast. 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
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