1st grade: a year of reading, math and wonder
A ready-to-use plan for parents and teachers. There are 36 weeks (about 180 school days) built around phonics and decodable reading, read-alouds, hands-on math, science investigations and our community. Each day has steps, materials, standards and a short game for your child.
Find today’s plan
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The year
Every month from September to June has day-by-day plans with steps, materials, standards and a printable page, plus a month overview and a plan for each week.
- SeptemberWelcome to First Grade / My Community & NeighborhoodWeeks 1–4Day-by-day plans
- OctoberFall / Plants & AnimalsWeeks 5–8Day-by-day plans
- NovemberFamily & Gratitude / Weather PatternsWeeks 9–11Day-by-day plans
- DecemberWinter Holidays / Light & SoundWeeks 12–14Day-by-day plans
- JanuaryNew Year / Polar Animals & HabitatsWeeks 15–18Day-by-day plans
- FebruaryFriendship / Feelings / HealthWeeks 19–22Day-by-day plans
- MarchSpring / Growth & ChangeWeeks 23–26Day-by-day plans
- AprilEarth & Environment / Forces of NatureWeeks 27–30Day-by-day plans
- MayOceans / Transportation / InventorsWeeks 31–34Day-by-day plans
- JuneReview & CelebrationWeeks 35–36Day-by-day plans
A 1st grade day
Every day plan follows the same order, so children know what comes next. Short on time? Do the morning meeting, phonics, reading and math (about 75 minutes), and fold science or social studies into the read-aloud.
| Time block | How long | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Morning meeting and calendar | 10–15 min | Greeting, calendar, the days-of-school count in tens and ones, weather and the question of the day. |
| Phonics and decodable reading | 15–20 min | The sound pattern of the week: blend, build and spell words, practice heart words, then read decodable sentences. |
| Reading workshop and read-aloud | 20–25 min | One read-aloud with questions, then independent or partner reading from "just right" books. |
| Math and math centers | 25–35 min | A short lesson with objects or drawings, then a math center or game. |
| Science or social studies | 15–20 min | Investigate, talk, draw and record in a science journal or on a class chart. |
| Writing | 15–20 min | Narrative, informative or opinion writing with drawings. Sound spelling is welcome. |
| Centers and independent practice | 20–30 min | Word work, reading, math games, building and a short game on the device. |
| Closing circle | 5 min | Share one thing you learned. |
Every child, every level
Needs foundational support
Each day has a Support idea. Go back to fewer sounds, use letter tiles and counters, and keep practice short and often. Reread the same decodable text for a few days; that is how fluency grows.
Already reading
Each day has a Stretch idea. Early readers can read longer chapter books, write more sentences and explain their math thinking. Keep phonics going: spelling patterns still help strong readers.
Tips for grown-ups
- Follow your child. Repeat a day or a week any time. The plan is a guide, not a race.
- Books are suggestions. Any similar picture book from your library works just as well.
- Read every day. Ten minutes of reading together at home matters more than any worksheet.
- Praise effort. "You kept trying!" helps more than "You’re so smart."
- Holidays are for learning about each other. We learn how families around the world celebrate, tell the true history of the 1621 harvest and the Wampanoag people, and respect families who do not celebrate.
Next: 2nd grade. Ready for what comes after 1st grade? See the 2nd grade year plan.