High-Frequency Words

High frequency words are the words first graders need to develop vocabulary.  They should be recognized and read easily.  The following are lists of words presented month by month during the first grade year.

September-October

a                     and                go

find                 here                on

have               jump               the

one                 not

to                    too

who                we

October

are                    do                five

away                for                four

does                  is                  in

he                    me                 once

live                   my                 three

pull                  said                two

they                you                 upon  

where               I                    what

November

also                all                animal

blue                call               bird

brown            eat                cold

color              every             fall

funny              first              flower

green             never            full

like                paper            look

many             shall              of 

some             why                see

November-December

car                play                come

down            friend              children

walk             girl                   family

hear             she                   father

hold            read                  love 

hurt             sing                   mother

learn           today                 people

their            write                  picture 

would         know                 your

December-January

give                could                grow       

good               house               light 

her                   how                 long

little                over                   more

try                   own                 other               

was                 so                     right 

fly                    world                room

our                                            these

                                                 small

January 

been                cow                morning

far                    table                found

forest               now                 shout

goes                door                  by 

hungry              there                out

soon                through              show 

evening            horse                climb

near                wall

February

old                afraid                again

piece            any                    both

shoe              bear                 gone

start              follow               or  

under            most                want

very              tall                   turn

wear             water               hard

build              idea   

February-March   

carry                always                about

kind                  eight                  because

put                    arms                  draw 

saw                   seven                 happy

butter                warm                teacher               

were                 ready                 part 

work                body                  tiny

April 

only                after                around

together          before              dance

watched          buy                  else

baby               pretty                open

edge                school              talk 

enough            done                ever

garden            off                    though

sharp            wash                   ocean                

person   

May

able                above                began

eye                  against              laugh

present            already             sure          

thoughts           caught             head

                        begin               divide

                        minute            second

                                              break 

WRITING

The first grade writing curriculum is included in the Houghton Mifflin ELA Program.  Writing is viewed as a form of communication.  Students are encouraged to write frequently and as independently as they are able.  Teachers support students as they write and instruct them individually and in groups.  The connection between reading and writing is important.  The understandings gained as students write support the process of learning to read.

POWER WRITING

Power 1:  main idea, focus, topic or thesis statement

What is this paragraph about?

Power 2:  major supporting ideas which support or talk about the Power 1.

Power 3:  details, examples or elaboration of the Power 2's

Power Zeros:  adds a personal voice or extra information

Power 1 closing:  summarizes, rewords, refocuses the Power 1 opener.

                                Leave the reader with a final thought.