The big ideas in grade 1 include: developing an understanding of addition, subtraction, and strategies for addition and subtraction within 20; developing an understanding of whole-number relationships and place value, including grouping in tens and ones; developing an understanding of linear measurement and measuring lengths as iterating length units; and reasoning about attributes of, and composing and decomposing geometric shapes. 

In 1st grade, students build on the early foundations of reading, writing, speaking, and language skills. The focus is on developing reading fluency and comprehension. Students read a variety of simple fiction and non-fiction texts to practice recognizing high-frequency words, decoding unfamiliar words, and reading with expression. They begin to understand story elements like characters, settings, and major events, while also learning how to identify the main idea and key details. Additionally, students are encouraged to ask and answer questions about the texts they read to deepen their understanding.

Writing in 1st grade emphasizes constructing simple sentences and short paragraphs. Students practice writing opinion pieces, informative texts, and brief narratives with a clear beginning, middle, and end. They learn to organize their thoughts, use basic punctuation like periods and question marks, and capitalize the first word of sentences. As they explore writing, students begin to understand the process of planning, drafting, and revising.