Language Arts

Reading
In first grade, students will continue to grow as readers and thinkers, building strong skills in phonics, fluency, and comprehension. We are excited to be using Amplify CKLA, a brand-new K–5 curriculum, to guide our learning this year. Students will explore engaging stories, poems, and informational texts that connect to the world around them. They’ll practice decoding words, building vocabulary, and thinking deeply about what they read, while also developing listening, speaking, and writing skills to share their ideas.

This program encourages hands-on activities, discussion, and meaningful practice. It’s designed to build confidence, spark curiosity, and help students see that reading and writing are more than just schoolwork—they are tools to explore and understand the world.

Reading Scope
In first grade, students will strengthen foundational reading skills, including phonics, sight words, and spelling patterns. They’ll develop comprehension strategies by exploring stories and informational texts, learning to ask questions, make predictions, and retell key details. Students will also expand their vocabulary, practice writing in response to texts, and develop strong speaking and listening skills. Each unit builds on the last, helping students grow step by step into confident, thoughtful readers and communicators.

Together, we’ll celebrate progress, big and small, as students discover the joy and power of reading. Like I mentioned, learning is an adventure, so let’s get ready to explore together! Be on the lookout for opportunities to volunteer and support our ELA learning throughout the year.

Phonics Terms: Useful terms to understand as students are on their learning journey!

Amplify: CKLA Reading

Sight Word Practice - 1000 Sight Words

These words won't be assigned as homework but they are great for practicing throughout the year. Students should spend time working on the first three hundred sight words.

DistanceLearningFrySightWordListsforTestingFREEBIE1000FryWords-1 (1).pdf

Why Sight Words?

Sight words are the “building blocks” of early reading. These are the small, common words your child will see again and again in books (like the, was, said, what). Because many sight words don’t follow regular spelling or phonics rules, they can be tricky to sound out. That’s why memorizing them is so important!

When children practice sight words, they become faster and more confident readers. Instead of getting stuck on every little word, they can focus on the story itself and really enjoy what they’re reading. Knowing sight words also makes writing easier as kids can spell these words quickly and correctly, which frees them up to focus on expressing their ideas.

A few minutes of practice at home can make a big difference. For example, reading flashcards, spotting sight words in books, or even writing them in fun ways. The more comfortable your child is with sight words, the smoother and more enjoyable reading (and writing) will be.

Fun At-Home Sight Word Activities

Flashlight Find – Write sight words on index cards, tape them to the wall, and have your child shine a flashlight on the word you call out.
Rainbow Writing – Have your child write each sight word three times, using a different color crayon or marker each time.
Sight Word Hunt – While reading a book together, ask your child to point out a specific sight word every time it pops up.
Chalk It Up – Write sight words outside with sidewalk chalk. Call out words and let your child hop, run, or stomp on them.
Memory Match – Make two sets of sight word cards and play a memory matching game.
Build with Magnets or Letters – Use magnetic letters, letter tiles, or even Scrabble pieces to “build” sight words.
Go Fish – Write sight words on index cards and play like “Go Fish.” (“Do you have the?”)
Word Toss – Write sight words on paper plates, spread them out, and toss a beanbag or ball. Read the word it lands on.
Sing It Out – Turn sight words into a silly song or chant. Adding rhythm makes them stick!

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