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Grade 1 ELA (California Common Core)

Your Teacher Information Pack for Grade 1 ELA (California Common Core): the standards, California's own additions, the state tests and the official links.

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State
California
Grade
Grade 1
Standards
California Common Core State Standards: ELA & Literacy
California additions
13
Last checked
2026-10-20

Show the CCSS grade standards plus the California additions for this grade.

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California additions (our summaries)

California uses the Common Core with extra or changed standards marked "CA". Below are their codes with our own short summaries; read the exact wording in the CDE document.

Reading Standards for Literature

  • RL.1.4 California adds to RL.1.4 (words and phrases about feelings and the senses) – exact added words to be checked. CA wording differs (to be re-checked)
  • RL.1.10a California-only sub-standard: activate prior knowledge about the events in a story. CA only (to be re-checked)
  • RL.1.10b California-only sub-standard: check whether predictions about a story come true. CA only (to be re-checked)

Reading Standards for Informational Text

  • RI.1.4 California adds to RI.1.4 (questions to clarify the meaning of words and phrases). CA wording differs (to be re-checked)
  • RI.1.5 California adds to RI.1.5 (using text features and structures to find key facts). CA wording differs (to be re-checked)
  • RI.1.10a California-only sub-standard: activate prior knowledge about the topic of an informational text. CA only (to be re-checked)
  • RI.1.10b California-only sub-standard: confirm predictions about what an informational text will tell you. CA only (to be re-checked)

Reading Standards: Foundational Skills

  • RF.1.3 California changes the wording of the RF.1.3 phonics and word analysis heading standard. CA wording differs (to be re-checked)

Writing Standards

  • W.1.4 California note: this writing standard starts in grade 2 in California (the CCSS starts it in grade 3). (to be re-checked)
  • W.1.10 California note: the range-of-writing standard starts in grade 2 in California (the CCSS starts it in grade 3). (to be re-checked)

Speaking and Listening Standards

  • SL.1.2a California-only sub-standard: restate and follow simple two-step directions. CA only (to be re-checked)
  • SL.1.4a California-only sub-standard: memorize and recite poems and rhymes with expression. CA only (to be re-checked)

Language Standards

  • L.1.1d California changes L.1.1d (personal, possessive and indefinite pronouns) – exact change to be checked. CA wording differs (to be re-checked)

The Common Core standards for this grade

Reading: Literature (RL) 10 standards

  • Key Ideas and Details
    • RL.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
    • RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
    • RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
  • Craft and Structure
    • RL.1.4 Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
    • RL.1.5 Explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information, drawing on a wide reading of a range of text types.
    • RL.1.6 Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text.
  • Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
    • RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
    • RL.1.8 (RL.1.8 not applicable to literature)
    • RL.1.9 Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.
  • Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
    • RL.1.10 With prompting and support, read prose and poetry of appropriate complexity for grade 1.

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Teacher notes: Reading: Literature (Grade 1)

First graders read and listen to stories and poems, asking and answering questions about key details. They retell stories and explain the central message or lesson, describe characters, settings and events, and notice words that show feelings or appeal to the senses. They also tell stories apart from information books and work out who is telling the story.

Reading: Informational Text (RI) 10 standards

  • Key Ideas and Details
    • RI.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
    • RI.1.2 Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
    • RI.1.3 Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.
  • Craft and Structure
    • RI.1.4 Ask and answer questions to help determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text.
    • RI.1.5 Know and use various text features (e.g., headings, tables of contents, glossaries, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text.
    • RI.1.6 Distinguish between information provided by pictures or other illustrations and information provided by the words in a text.
  • Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
    • RI.1.7 Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.
    • RI.1.8 Identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
    • RI.1.9 Identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures).
  • Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
    • RI.1.10 With prompting and support, read informational texts appropriately complex for grade 1.

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Teacher notes: Reading: Informational Text (Grade 1)

Grade 1 students read informational texts to find the main topic and key details and to connect ideas, events or people. They use text features such as headings, tables of contents and glossaries to locate facts, and learn what pictures add compared with the words. They also find reasons authors give and compare two texts on the same topic.

Reading: Foundational Skills (RF) 4 standards

  • Print Concepts
    • RF.1.1 Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
      • RF.1.1.a Recognize the distinguishing features of a sentence (e.g., first word, capitalization, ending punctuation).
  • Phonological Awareness
    • RF.1.2 Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
      • RF.1.2.a Distinguish long from short vowel sounds in spoken single-syllable words.
      • RF.1.2.b Orally produce single-syllable words by blending sounds (phonemes), including consonant blends.
      • RF.1.2.c Isolate and pronounce initial, medial vowel, and final sounds (phonemes) in spoken single-syllable words.
      • RF.1.2.d Segment spoken single-syllable words into their complete sequence of individual sounds (phonemes).
  • Phonics and Word Recognition
    • RF.1.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
      • RF.1.3.a Know the spelling-sound correspondences for common consonant digraphs.
      • RF.1.3.b Decode regularly spelled one-syllable words.
      • RF.1.3.c Know final -e and common vowel team conventions for representing long vowel sounds.
      • RF.1.3.d Use knowledge that every syllable must have a vowel sound to determine the number of syllables in a printed word.
      • RF.1.3.e Decode two-syllable words following basic patterns by breaking the words into syllables.
      • RF.1.3.f Read words with inflectional endings.
      • RF.1.3.g Recognize and read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.
  • Fluency
    • RF.1.4 Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
      • RF.1.4.a Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
      • RF.1.4.b Read grade-level text orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.
      • RF.1.4.c Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.

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Teacher notes: Reading: Foundational Skills (Grade 1)

Grade 1 is a big year for phonics. Students hear long and short vowels, blend and segment every sound in one-syllable words, and learn consonant digraphs, final -e and vowel teams. They decode one- and two-syllable words and words with endings, read irregular words and build fluency with grade-level text.

Writing (W) 10 standards

  • Text Types and Purposes
    • W.1.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.
    • W.1.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
    • W.1.3 Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.
  • Production and Distribution of Writing
    • W.1.4 (W.1.4 begins in grade 3)
    • W.1.5 With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed.
    • W.1.6 With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
  • Research to Build and Present Knowledge
    • W.1.7 Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of "how-to" books on a given topic and use them to write a sequence of instructions).
    • W.1.8 With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
    • W.1.9 (W.1.9 begins in grade 4)
  • Range of Writing
    • W.1.10 (W.1.10 begins in grade 3)

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Teacher notes: Writing (Grade 1)

First graders write opinion pieces with a reason, informative texts with some facts, and narratives with two or more events in order. Each piece needs some sense of closure. With adult guidance they respond to peer feedback, add details, use digital tools and join shared research projects.

Speaking & Listening (SL) 6 standards

  • Comprehension and Collaboration
    • SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
      • SL.1.1.a Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).
      • SL.1.1.b Build on others' talk in conversations by responding to the comments of others through multiple exchanges.
      • SL.1.1.c Ask questions to clear up any confusion about the topics and texts under discussion.
    • SL.1.2 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
    • SL.1.3 Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says in order to gather additional information or clarify something that is not understood.
  • Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
    • SL.1.4 Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.
    • SL.1.5 Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
    • SL.1.6 Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation. (See grade 1 Language standards 1 and 3 here for specific expectations.)

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Teacher notes: Speaking & Listening (Grade 1)

First graders take part in conversations with care, building on what others say over several exchanges and asking questions to clear up confusion. They ask and answer questions about texts read aloud and what speakers say. They describe people, places and events with relevant details and speak in complete sentences when the situation calls for it.

Language (L) 6 standards

  • Conventions of Standard English
    • L.1.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
      • L.1.1.a Print all upper- and lowercase letters.
      • L.1.1.b Use common, proper, and possessive nouns.
      • L.1.1.c Use singular and plural nouns with matching verbs in basic sentences (e.g., He hops; We hop).
      • L.1.1.d Use personal, possessive, and indefinite pronouns (e.g., I, me, my; they, them, their, anyone, everything).
      • L.1.1.e Use verbs to convey a sense of past, present, and future (e.g., Yesterday I walked home; Today I walk home; Tomorrow I will walk home).
      • L.1.1.f Use frequently occurring adjectives.
      • L.1.1.g Use frequently occurring conjunctions (e.g., and, but, or, so, because).
      • L.1.1.h Use determiners (e.g., articles, demonstratives).
      • L.1.1.i Use frequently occurring prepositions (e.g., during, beyond, toward).
      • L.1.1.j Produce and expand complete simple and compound declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences in response to prompts.
    • L.1.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
      • L.1.2.a Capitalize dates and names of people.
      • L.1.2.b Use end punctuation for sentences.
      • L.1.2.c Use commas in dates and to separate single words in a series.
      • L.1.2.d Use conventional spelling for words with common spelling patterns and for frequently occurring irregular words.
      • L.1.2.e Spell untaught words phonetically, drawing on phonemic awareness and spelling conventions.
  • Knowledge of Language
    • L.1.3 (L.1.3 begins in grade 2)
  • Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
    • L.1.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 1 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies.
      • L.1.4.a Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
      • L.1.4.b Use frequently occurring affixes as a clue to the meaning of a word.
      • L.1.4.c Identify frequently occurring root words (e.g., look) and their inflectional forms (e.g., looks, looked, looking).
    • L.1.5 With guidance and support from adults, demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
      • L.1.5.a Sort words into categories (e.g., colors, clothing) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.
      • L.1.5.b Define words by category and by one or more key attributes (e.g., a duck is a bird that swims; a tiger is a large cat with stripes).
      • L.1.5.c Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at home that are cozy).
      • L.1.5.d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs differing in manner (e.g., look, peek, glance, stare, glare, scowl) and adjectives differing in intensity (e.g., large, gigantic) by defining or choosing them or by acting out the meanings.
    • L.1.6 Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using frequently occurring conjunctions to signal simple relationships (e.g., because).

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Teacher notes: Language (Grade 1)

Grade 1 language builds grammar, mechanics and vocabulary. Students use common, proper and possessive nouns, matching verbs, pronouns, verb tenses, adjectives, conjunctions, determiners and prepositions, and write four kinds of sentences. They capitalize dates and names, use end punctuation and commas in dates and lists, and use context and word parts to figure out meanings.

Tests and key dates

California tests ELA and math in grades 3–8 and 11 (CAASPP). Check the CDE for dates.

More packs

Kindergarten ELA · Grade 2 ELA · Grade 3 ELA · Grade 4 ELA · Grade 5 ELA · All California packs · Find another TIP

Standards codes from the California Department of Education. Summaries are Classfern's own words, not official text – see the CDE document for the exact wording.

California additions and ELD standards are shown as codes with our own summaries only: the California Department of Education's permission is needed to reproduce its text.

Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the California Department of Education.

© Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.

The Common Core State Standards are owned and developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and are shown here under the Common Core State Standards Public License. Examples from the official site are not included. Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by NGA Center or CCSSO. Each standard links to its official page.