First grade learners have a basic understanding of language. From their education that they gained in kindergarten, they should have familiarity and be proficient in understanding their letters and sounds, how to write their name, and the ability to decode and spell basic CVC words.

When they first enter the school building in kindergarten, they begin to learn what language is! They learn that there are other ways to communicate information beyond talking and the elements of words/sentences.

In first grade, this is really expanded upon and they begin to use language more independently to communicate on their own.

Here at TheWorksheets.com we have every resource you could possibly need to teach the language standards that are necessary for each first grade learner to know. The worksheets are pulled and curated by teachers and professionals to hit on exactly what children need to grow in the area of language.

Throughout this article you will find out what each first grade teacher should know about teaching language, first grade language standards, and the standard’s coordinating worksheets.

[Infographic] – What Every First Grade Teacher Should Know About Language!

Language Skills Each First Grader Should Know!

The ELA standards identify a set of skills students must master in first grade. These skills are broken up into categories that include Conventions of Standard English, Conventions and Vocabulary Acquisition and Use.

These skills are so important to a child’s success as a reader and writer and teachers and parents can use worksheets provided by TheWorksheets.com to support the growth of their language skills.

Conventions of Standard English

Conventions of Standard English is what we call in education an  “umbrella category” for a lot of the norms of speaking and writing that we do each and every day. Here at TheWorksheets.com, we have curated worksheets that practice and access each of these standards.

Below you will find each of the standards addressed in this category of conventions as well as linked worksheets that address this specific skill. 

Even if some of these worksheets look above your child’s/student’s individual level, you can complete these tasks with them orally or with support. That is developmentally appropriate for a first grade learner, especially when learning new skills!

The worksheets and ideas found in these links can be a good guide to see what the norms are in the English language and how to ensure your child/student has success in the understanding of those conventions.

[Downloads] – Worksheet Titles

• Print all upper- and lowercase letters.
  • Handwriting Worksheets
• Use common, proper, and possessive nouns.
  • First Grade Noun Worksheets
• Use singular and plural nouns with matching verbs in basic sentences (e.g., He hops; We hop).
  • First Grade Singular and Plural Noun Worksheets
• Use personal, possessive, and indefinite pronouns (e.g., I, me, my; they, them, their, anyone, everything).
  • First Grade Pronoun Worksheets
• Use verbs to convey a sense of past, present, and future (e.g., Yesterday I walked home; Today I walk home; Tomorrow I will walk home).
  • First Grade Verb Worksheets
• Use frequently occurring adjectives.
  • First Grade Adjective Worksheets
• Use frequently occurring conjunctions (e.g., and, but, or, so, because).
  • First Grade Conjunction Worksheets 
• Use determiners (e.g., articles, demonstratives).
  • First Grade Determiner Worksheets
• Use frequently occurring prepositions (e.g., during, beyond, toward).
  • First Grade Preposition Worksheets
• Produce and expand complete simple and compound declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences in response to prompts.
  • First Grade Type of Sentence Worksheets
  • First Grade Sentence Writing Worksheets
  • First Grade Writing Prompts
• Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
  • First Grade Capitalization Worksheets
  • First Grade Punctuation Worksheets
  • First Grade Spelling Worksheets
• Capitalize dates and names of people.
  • First Grade Capitalization Worksheets
• Use end punctuation for sentences.
  • First Grade Punctuation Worksheets
• Use commas in dates and to separate single words in a series.
  • First Grade Punctuation Worksheets
• Use conventional spelling for words with common spelling patterns and for frequently occurring irregular words.
  • First Grade Spelling Worksheets
• Spell untaught words phonetically, drawing on phonemic awareness and spelling conventions.
  • First Grade Spelling Worksheets

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use:

Many students in primary grades have a very limited vocabulary. Depending on how much conversation is taking place at home, the words that children know in first grade can not be very broad. Word choice is very limited for the average first grade child when they enter the classroom. When it comes to content-specific vocabulary, they do not have a lot of background knowledge at this point. In first grade they are focusing on learning to read where in later grades it will shift to reading to learn. In first grade it is important that they learn that there are other words out there to describe the world around them beyond the ones that they may use everyday. At TheWorksheets.com there are worksheets that address each and every skill that is necessary for the first grade learner to master. Below are a list of those curated worksheets linked in reference to each first grade standard for your selection:

[Downloads] – Worksheet Titles

• Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
  • First Grade Context Clue Worksheets
• Use frequently occurring affixes as a clue to the meaning of a word.
  • First Grade Affixes Worksheets
• Identify frequently occurring root words (e.g., look) and their inflectional forms (e.g., looks, looked, looking).
  • First Grade Root Word Worksheets
• With guidance and support from adults, demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
  • First Grade Word Meaning Worksheets
• Sort words into categories (e.g., colors, clothing) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.
  • First Grade Sorting Worksheets
• Define words by category and by one or more key attributes (e.g., a duck is a bird that swims; a tiger is a large cat with stripes).
  • First Grade Category Definition Worksheets
• Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at home that are cozy).
  • First Grade Connection Worksheets
• Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs differing in manner (e.g., look, peek, glance, stare, glare, scowl) and adjectives differing in intensity (e.g., large, gigantic) by defining or choosing them or by acting out the meanings.
  • First Grade Shades of Meaning Worksheets
• Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using frequently occurring conjunctions to signal simple relationships (e.g., because).
  • First Grade Sight Word Worksheets

These worksheets from TheWorksheets.com can help your child grow in their vocabulary. These worksheets can be used as a tool to guide conversation with your first grader.

Not each worksheet needs to be filled out and done independently by your first grader. If you notice that they are struggling, try completing the activity with some support and prompting.

You Can Trust TheWorksheets.com!

A strong language base helps children understand the world around them and be able to communicate about it. It is important for them to have the skills and strategies necessary to express their thoughts in a way that is understood by others.

By growing their understanding of language, they will be better prepared for their schooling years to come.

TheWorksheets.com is filled with many informational resources to help each child grow their language skills!