What does a student learn in StateMassachusetts,GradeGrade 1,SubjectEnglish Language Arts?

Students read a story carefully and point to exact words or sentences from the book to back up what they think or say about it.

Students find the big idea a story is really about, then point to the moments in the story that show it. They can also retell the key parts in their own words.

Students explain how a character changes or why something happens in a story. They track how events connect from beginning to end.

Students figure out what words mean by how they are used in a story, noticing when a word sounds angry, playful, or surprising. They also look at how a writer's word choices change the feeling of a sentence.

Students notice how a story is put together: how one sentence leads to the next, how paragraphs connect, and how each part fits the whole story.

Students figure out who is telling a story and notice how that choice changes what gets shared and how it sounds.

Students look at pictures, illustrations, and words together in a story to understand what is happening. A picture can show details the words leave out.

Grade 1 students aren't expected to evaluate arguments yet. This standard is typically introduced in later grades. If this code appears on a Grade 1 document, it may be a placeholder or error worth checking with the teacher.

Students read two stories on the same topic and talk about what is alike and what is different. They look at how each author tells the story in their own way.

Students read short stories and simple books on their own, working toward handling harder texts without help. The goal is steady, independent reading practice.

Students read a nonfiction passage and point to exact words or sentences that back up what they say about it. They stick to what the text actually says, not just what they think or feel.

Students find the main point of a nonfiction book or article, then point to the details that back it up. They can tell someone else what the text was mostly about in a few sentences.

Students read a nonfiction passage and explain how a person, event, or idea changes or connects to something else in the same text. The focus is on the "how" and "why," not just the "what."

Students figure out what unfamiliar words mean by looking at the words and sentences around them in a nonfiction passage. They also notice how the author's word choices change the feeling of what they're reading.

Students look at how sentences and paragraphs in a nonfiction book fit together, noticing how each part connects to the rest of the piece.

Students identify who is telling the information and why. Recognizing the author's purpose helps students notice what details are included and how the writing sounds.

Students look at photos, diagrams, or simple charts alongside a short text and explain what each one adds to the story. A picture and a paragraph together tell more than either one alone.

Students listen to or read a nonfiction book and decide whether the author's reasons actually back up the main point. They practice asking: does this reason make sense, and does it fit?

Two books can cover the same topic but say different things about it. Students read two short books on the same subject and notice what each one teaches, then talk about how the books are alike or different.

Students read short nonfiction books and articles on their own, working through unfamiliar words and ideas without stopping. By the end of first grade, they handle texts that are a step harder than what feels easy.

Students learn how a page of writing works: that words run left to right, that spaces separate words, and that sentences start with a capital letter and end with punctuation.

Students listen to spoken words and identify the individual sounds and syllables inside them. This is the building block for learning to read and spell.

Students use letter-sound patterns they know to read unfamiliar words. This is the decoding work that turns a page of print into something a reader can actually say and understand.

Students read short books and passages clearly enough that understanding the words doesn't get in the way of understanding the meaning. The goal is smooth, accurate reading, not just getting through the page.

Students pick a side on a topic or a story and write sentences that explain why, using reasons that actually support their choice.

Students write short pieces that explain how something works or share facts about a topic. The writing stays clear and sticks to what the reader needs to know.

Students write short stories about something that happened to them or something they made up. They put events in order, add details that bring the story to life, and give it a clear beginning and ending.

Students write sentences that fit the job: a story sounds like a story, a how-to sounds like a how-to, and the words match who will read it.

Students plan, draft, and then go back to fix and improve their writing. They learn that good writing takes more than one try.

Students learn to type, record, or create writing on a computer or tablet, then share it with a classmate or teacher. This could mean submitting a sentence online or working with a partner to add to a shared document.

Students pick a question they want to answer, then gather information to answer it. Research at this grade is short and focused, like finding out why leaves change color or how spiders build webs.

Students find facts from books and websites, check that the source seems trustworthy, and put the information into their own words when they write.

Students point to a specific part of a story or book to back up what they think or noticed. They practice using what they read as proof, not just their own opinion.

Students write often, both in quick bursts and over several days. They practice writing for different reasons and for different people, not just the teacher.

Students listen to what a classmate says and add their own idea to keep the conversation going. They practice taking turns in small groups and full-class discussions.

Students listen to a story read aloud, watch a short video, or look at a picture and then talk about what they learned. They practice pulling information from different sources, not just printed words.

Students listen to someone talk and decide whether their reasons make sense and whether the details they share back up what they're saying.

Students share ideas or findings out loud in a way that's easy for listeners to follow, choosing words and details that fit the topic and the people listening.

Students add pictures, drawings, or simple visuals to a presentation to help the audience understand what they're saying. The visuals support the words, not just decorate them.

Students practice switching between everyday talk and more careful, formal speech. Telling a friend about recess sounds different from answering a teacher's question, and students learn to notice that difference.

Students learn the basic rules of English grammar, like how to build a sentence, use nouns and verbs, and speak or write clearly. These habits show up in everyday writing and classroom conversation.

Students practice the basic rules of writing: capitalizing the first word in a sentence and names, ending sentences with the right punctuation mark, and spelling common words correctly.

Students learn that word choice matters. They practice picking words that fit the moment, whether writing a sentence or following along as someone reads aloud.

When students come across a word they don't know, they use clues from nearby sentences, look at the word's parts, or check a dictionary to figure out what it means.

Students learn that words can mean more than they say. They sort words by how they connect ("hot" and "cold" go together), notice shades of meaning between close words like "big" and "huge," and spot playful language like rhymes or sound words.

Students learn and use the kinds of words that show up across subjects at school, words like "compare," "describe," or "observe." Knowing these words helps students read, write, and talk about what they are learning.