How Parents Can Make First Grade Successful for Children

Parents can take action to help children excel as they transition the from kindergarten to first grade. How will this year differ from the previous one? From how to spot early signs of a reading problem to grocery store, kitchen, and road trip math, this parent's guide to first grade breaks it down.

First Grade Basics

• What You Can Expect in First Grade: Here's an overview of what you can anticipate as your child navigates their way through first grade.
• What Do Kids Learn in First Grade?: First grade teachers use children's pride in growing bigger to challenge them to learn about more complex topics. Reading skills come into play, math becomes more complex, and science and social studies expose children to new worlds.
• Is Homework Really Necessary?: Let's face it, most kids grumble about homework, and it's no fun to be the one making sure it's getting done. Find out why teachers give homework and what they want your child to learn from it.
• Struggling Learner? 8 Basic Components of Individualized Education Programs: If you're feeling like your child's learning problems are yours to deal with alone, take a look at how special education programs can help.

First Grade Reading

• What Parents Need to Know About How Kids Learn to Read: It may seem like your first grader is learning to read overnight, but it's actually been a gradual process.
• Reading Programs - What is Basal Reading Instruction?: As reading becomes more of a focus, your child may participate in some formal reading programs, including basal reading instruction. So what's it all about?
• What's a Leveled Reading Program?: Learn more about how leveled reading has changed since you were a kid.
• 5 Leveled Reading Programs You Should Know About: When you're trying to decide what books to buy for your child, it can be confusing to figure out what book level to purchase. The reason it's so baffling is because there are so many different programs.
• What Is Whole Language Reading?: Take a quick look at what the whole language reading approach entails.

Read With Your First Grader

First Grade Reading List - Books for Children Entering First Grade: While it may be tempting to let your child's reading instruction stay in the classroom, it's important that your emerging reader practice those skills at home too. Here are some books to get you started.

First Grade Math

• What Is a Fact Family?: One of the more common concepts taught in first grade math is the concept of a fact family (or fact families). If you've never heard of them, they're quite easy to relate to.
• Build a Fact Family House: Fact family houses are a great way to teach visual learners about the relationships among the numbers that make up the family.
• Math Games: Math games can encourage the development of addition, subtraction, and other math skills. You can play them at home or while running errands with your child.

Working With Your First Grader

• 5 Ways Parents Can Help With Homework: It's not just your kids who need your help with homework; teachers need your help too. Here's what you need to know.
• Teach High-Frequency Words for First Grade Reading: Help your child learn the words they'll most commonly encounter in their first grade reading material.