Grade 1 Language Arts • Being a Reader and Being a Writer

Grade 1 Language Arts

Elementary Language Arts Instruction

Being a Reader

Learning to read is a developmental process that begins even before children enter school.  Students proceed at different rates, therefore creating a range of reading abilities in every classroom. To meet the needs of all readers, the Being a Reader program offers a strategic mix of whole-class and small-group instruction.

Students will receive direct instruction in:

• Foundational Skills
  • Phonemic Awareness
  • Phonics
  • Syllabication
  • Encoding
• Handwriting
• Fluency
• High-Frequency Words
• Comprehension

We all aspire to provide our students with the strategies and skills they need to learn in order to read well and to love reading. We want students to approach reading with motivation and confidence, to deeply comprehend text, and to grow as readers, thinkers and caring and collaborative citizens. Being a Reader is a curriculum that supports students in achieving these goals through whole-class and small-group instruction.

Small-Group Reading

During small group reading lessons, students are placed in groups based on their reading skills and readiness. Once placed, each student moves at his or her own pace along a continuum of reading development. Readers receive instruction focused on phonics, high-frequency word recognition, fluency, and comprehension.

Small group instruction has explicit-systematic instruction of foundational skills (phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency) and direct application in reading authentic text with a focus on developing comprehension skills.  

Teachers frequently monitor and assess student progress to ensure students’ needs are met throughout the year. 

Additionally, students will engage in practicing foundational skills, writing, and reading independently.

Being a Reader Resource for Families

• BookRoom! App- This app from the Center for the Collaborative Classroom gives families access to the small group texts students read in school.  Once downloaded, contact your student's teacher for the necessary bar codes to access books.  The app is available on Google Play Links to an external site. and itunes Links to an external site..

Being a Writer

Being a Writer is a program designed to help students build their writing skills. The students hear and discuss examples of good writing and write narrative, opinion, and informational pieces. They informally draft, revise, and publish their writing while learning the basic skills they need to communicate in writing.  The program also helps the class become a community of writers in which everyone feels welcome.