Pennsylvania Standards
Pennsylvania 1st Grade ELA Standards
All 56 Pennsylvania English language arts standards for 1st grade, each explained in plain English. The official wording is in Pennsylvania Department of Education's document, linked at the end of this page.
56 standards
Foundational Skills
4 standardsCC.1.1.1.B
Follow print left to right and top to bottom, know that letters in order make a word with spaces between words, and name every upper and lowercase letter.
CC.1.1.1.C
Hear and make rhymes, clap syllables, say the first, middle and last sounds in a short word like cat, and swap a sound to make a new word, like cat to hat.
CC.1.1.1.D
Say the main sound of each consonant, know the long and short sounds of a, e, i, o and u, and read common sight words like the, of and you.
CC.1.1.1.E
Read first-grade books for a reason and with understanding, reread aloud accurately with good pace and expression, and use context to fix misread words.
Reading Informational Text
11 standardsCC.1.2.1.A
Tell what a nonfiction text is mostly about and retell its most important details, like facts from a book about bees.
CC.1.2.1.B
Ask and answer questions about the important parts of a story without being prompted, like why the fox wanted the grapes.
CC.1.2.1.C
Describe how two people, events or ideas in an informational book are connected, like how rain fills the river that fish live in.
CC.1.2.1.E
Use parts of a book like headings, a table of contents and a glossary, or a search box online, to find key facts in a text.
CC.1.2.1.F
Ask and answer questions to figure out what a word or phrase in an informational book means, like hibernate in a book about bears.
CC.1.2.1.G
Use an informational book's pictures and words together to describe its main ideas, like how a diagram shows the parts of a plant.
CC.1.2.1.H
Point out the reasons an author gives to back up a point, like the three reasons a book gives for brushing your teeth.
CC.1.2.1.I
Tell simple ways two nonfiction texts on one topic, like two books about the moon, are alike and different.
CC.1.2.1.J
Use new words learned from talking, reading and read-alouds, including linking words like because and so, when discussing nonfiction.
CC.1.2.1.K
Figure out new words in first-grade nonfiction, including ones with two meanings, like fly the insect and fly a kite.
CC.1.2.1.L
Read and understand first-grade nonfiction, like true stories and science books, on their own and with skill.
Reading Literature
11 standardsCC.1.3.1.A
Retell a story in order with its important parts and say what lesson it teaches, like slow and steady wins the race.
CC.1.3.1.B
Ask and answer questions about the important parts of a story without being prompted, like why the fox wanted the grapes.
CC.1.3.1.C
Describe a story's characters, where it happens and its big events on your own, pointing to details from the story.
CC.1.3.1.D
Tell who is speaking at different points in a story, like when the narrator stops and a character starts talking.
CC.1.3.1.E
Explain the big differences between storybooks and books that teach facts, using examples from many kinds of books they have read.
CC.1.3.1.F
Find the words in a story or poem that show a feeling or bring in the senses, like shivered or a crunchy, sweet apple.
CC.1.3.1.G
Describe a story’s characters, setting or events using its pictures and details, like what a drawing shows about where the story happens.
CC.1.3.1.H
Tell how the adventures of characters in two stories are alike and different, like two heroes who both face a wolf.
CC.1.3.1.I
Work out unfamiliar words in first-grade stories and poems, including words with two meanings, like a ring you wear and a phone’s ring.
CC.1.3.1.J
Use words picked up from conversations, stories and read-alouds when talking about books, including joining words like and, but and because.
CC.1.3.1.K
Read and understand first-grade stories and poems by themselves, with skill and confidence.
Writing
23 standardsCC.1.4.1.A
Write pieces that teach about a topic and share facts and ideas, like a page explaining how to care for a goldfish.
CC.1.4.1.B
Name one clear topic, like sharks, and keep the whole informative piece about it.
CC.1.4.1.C
Back up the topic with at least two facts, like sharks have many teeth and some sharks are tiny.
CC.1.4.1.D
Put related facts together and end the informative piece with a closing sentence that wraps it up.
CC.1.4.1.E
Pick words that make facts clear and interesting, like enormous instead of big in a piece about whales.
CC.1.4.1.F
In informative writing, capitalize names and dates, use end marks and commas in dates and lists, and spell using common sound and spelling patterns.
CC.1.4.1.G
Write a piece telling what they think about something they know well, like the best recess game.
CC.1.4.1.H
Pick one option from a few the teacher offers, like three class pet ideas, and state their opinion about it.
CC.1.4.1.I
Give reasons that connect to their opinion, like a hamster is a good class pet because it is small and quiet.
CC.1.4.1.J
Organize an opinion piece so the reasons follow the opinion and a closing sentence finishes it off.
CC.1.4.1.K
Use different words and phrases in opinion writing instead of repeating the same ones, like great, fun and exciting.
CC.1.4.1.L
In opinion pieces, capitalize dates and people’s names, end sentences with the right mark, put commas in dates and lists, and use spelling patterns.
CC.1.4.1.M
Write stories about real or made-up events, like losing a first tooth or a dragon visiting school.
CC.1.4.1.N
Start a story by introducing the main character and the event it will tell about, like Grandma and our trip to the farm.
CC.1.4.1.O
Add what they thought and felt while describing what happened in a story, like I was scared when the lights went out.
CC.1.4.1.P
Tell two or more events in order using time words like first, next and then, and finish the story with an ending.
CC.1.4.1.Q
Use varied words and phrases when writing a story, like shouted or whispered in place of said.
CC.1.4.1.R
When writing stories, capitalize names and dates, use the right end marks, add commas in dates and series of words, and spell with familiar patterns.
CC.1.4.1.T
With help from adults and classmates, stay on topic, answer classmates’ questions and ideas, and add details that make their writing better.
CC.1.4.1.U
With help, use different digital tools, like a tablet or class computer, to write, publish and share work, including with classmates.
CC.1.4.1.V
Join in research and writing projects alone or with others, like reading books about insects and writing what they learned.
CC.1.4.1.W
With help, use what they remember from experiences or facts from sources the teacher provides to answer a question, like what plants need to grow.
CC.1.4.1.X
Write regularly, from a report built over several days to a journal entry finished in one class, for different subjects, purposes and readers.
Speaking and Listening
7 standardsCC.1.5.1.A
Talk and listen with classmates and adults in small groups and larger ones, like discussing a read-aloud with the whole class.
CC.1.5.1.B
Show understanding of a read-aloud, a talk or a video by asking and answering questions about it and asking when something is confusing.
CC.1.5.1.C
Ask a speaker questions to learn more or to clear up something confusing, and answer questions about what they said.
CC.1.5.1.D
Describe a person, place, thing or event with details that matter, saying ideas and feelings clearly, like what made a trip to the zoo fun.
CC.1.5.1.E
Speak in full sentences when the moment calls for it, like answering a question in front of the class.
CC.1.5.1.F
Show a drawing or other visual while speaking to make ideas, thoughts and feelings clearer, like a sketch of their new puppy.
CC.1.5.1.G
Use correct first-grade grammar when speaking, like matching verbs to nouns, as in he runs and they run.
The official Pennsylvania documents
- Pennsylvania Core Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics · adopted February 2014 · since March 2014
The plain-English lines on this page are EMStudio's own explanations of Pennsylvania's standards, not the official wording, which Pennsylvania Department of Education publishes in the documents above. Codes and strand names identify each standard.