1st Grade
Reading Vocabulary
Organized into 34 Phonics Categories

If your child can fluently read the 340 words in this list by the end of 1st Grade, he/she will typically score in the top 10-25% on Grade 1 national reading tests (i.e. S.A.T.).

Memorizing rate is increased substantially using this unique list format since column words are grouped into similar vowel sounds, (i.e.  "ar" words are listed together - "ee" words - "ai" words - etc.).  This gives a child the consistency to decode all words in the category without experiencing the typical vowel sound confusion.

The words included in this list are the "Most Common 340 Words" in elementary level reading and are words typically used on standardized 1st Grade reading tests. Words have been organized from the "most-common" at the beginning to the "least-common" reading words at the end, thereby providing the most logical and efficient order for instruction throughout the year.  The list is an excellent tool for "one-on-one" testing - guiding additional classroom and homework activities - as a parent "hand-out" - teacher/parent conferences - and also is an excellent tool to help support pass or fail decisions for 1st Grade students (i.e. - If a student is unable to read 50% of words in Levels 1-12 retention should definitely be recommended).

ORDER GRADE 1 PROGRAM

120 Priority Phonics Nouns
OK, there are a few verbs in this group, but these are the words used in all five of our Leap Frog Phonics Desk Phonemic Awareness Worksheets. They cover all the primary phonics categories including CVC Words - blends - final e rule - digraphs (ch-sh-th-wh) - (ai-ee-ie-oa-oi) and the very important r-controlled vowels (ar-er-ir-ur-or).  Column 1- 4 words (and sounds) should be memorized by the end of 1st grade or the child will begin second grade at a significant disadvantage. Have your student try to say the word column after mastering the corresponding Phonics Worksheet in our tampareads Phonics Section.

1st Grade
Phonics Assessment Tool
The memorization of these sounds should be another important goal of all 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade teachers (we need to keep reviewing each year).   When all sounds are memorized by a child - watch the reading, writing and spelling skills jump into high gear.  You can use this list either as a guide for phonics teaching, classroom or homework activities or as an assessment tool in a one-on-one situation to pinpoint which sounds have yet to be mastered by the child.  This assessment tool covers all sounds from consonants - to vowel sounds - to common word endings.

A Fun Classroom Activity
Put students into small groups of 2-4 children.  Pass out a blank paper and the above Phonics Sheet to each person and tell each group to work together to find two or three words for each sound in whichever category you tell them.  For instance, Grade 1 could be asked to find 2-3 (or more) words for each consonant or short vowel sound.  Grade two or three could be asked to find 3-5 words for the each vowel sound category (i.e. short a-e-i-o-u  - ar - er-ir-ur - or - oo - ou - oi - etc.).   The kids love the competition and challenge of this activity.  The exercise can take from 10 to 30 minutes and is an extremely effective memorizing technique for helping children learn these important sounds.  In fact, this activity should be done weekly - only each week you could add another sound or increase the number of words they would have to find for each sound.

The primary CVC Picture Words formatted for 8 x 11 paper
These are just five of the 20 cards you'll be able to print out on your computer from our Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) picture word reading list.  These are the same words used in our phonemic awareness CVC worksheets and are also the same words used in the Phonics Desk Learning Tool by LeapFrog.  The words are very useful in early reading because they contain every consonant sound (except "y"), and all short vowel sounds.  This provides concentrated phonics reading practice in just 20 simple words.  First Grade students should know this words without hesitation by at least October.  You'll notice the color representation for the pictures is excellent, making them a beautiful and functional way to dress-up the walls of any Kindergarten or First Grade classroom - or even your child's bedroom wall. 

Words include -
sun - dog - pig - kid - fox - tub - lid - pot - top
hen - jet - cat - bus - mix - rug - jam - van - zip - web

b's and d's
Have Never Been Easier
Using our "Ping-Pong" trick
The b-d-b-d teaching list file is hands down the best way to help those children who reach a stumbling block when remembering which letter is "b" and which is "d".  You can print out the b-d-b-d list and make it as long or short as you would like.  There are 6 different b-d patterns to keep the kids thinking.  Also includes the personal b-d-b-d list for working in a tutoring situation that includes a highly motivational progress graph.  Remember - "b goes bowling to the right" - which means the round ball is on the right side of the stick.
And of course - "d" goes dancing to the left.  By the way 1st Grade Teachers - This is part of your lesson on the first day of school.

Who can say the letters without a mistake?

Vocabulary Building Worksheets
Our Vocabulary Building Section for our 1st Grade words includes 108 specially designed worksheets which will help your students memorize the 340 1st Grade Vocabulary Words.  Each worksheet contains the following:
1) "Recognition Memory" Test
In Skill 1, the teacher calls out the list word or definition clue.  The student is to then locate the word from the list and write it in the blank space provided.
2) Letter Soup Activity
In Skill 2, we've scrambled the letters of the weeks vocabulary words.  The child's job is to find the correct word that can be spelled from the scrambled letters.
3)  Sentence Writing Practice
In Skill 3, each word has its own space for the student to write a 6-7 word sentence using the vocabulary word.  

When you sign up with our Grade 1 program,  you will be able to access any of the 108 worksheets with one click from the Vocabulary Worksheet Index.  Go ahead... give the worksheet index below a try - click on "ws-1" to see the worksheet for the Monday and Tuesday words and click "ws-2" to see the worksheet for the Wednesday and Thursday words.  Click the red button to see the Friday review test which uses a unique set strategies to further enhance memorization. 

CVC Phonemic Awareness Packet for 1st Grade
CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) words are 3 letter words with a short vowel sound in the middle - (cat dog fox sun rug top pig bus etc.)  These are the best words to use when teaching beginning readers how to "sound-out" (decode) new words. WHY? Because the sounds in CVC words are consistent almost every time. Our CVC Phonemic Awareness Packet contains 5 specially designed worksheets which progress "ever-so-slightly" in difficulty from one skill to the next.  Skill 1 worksheet begins with the easy "Recognition Memory Strategy" (two choices for each beginning - middle and final sound).  The Skill 2 worksheet which tests "Recall Memory" (no choices) for beginning consonant sounds - then ending sounds - then vowel sounds and then the CVC test.  Their design provides ample practice of the previous skill while still presenting a challenge with the new skill.  Take a look below for a clearer example from each skill worksheet.  Below are examples from each of the 5 Skill Level Worksheets in this CVC Phonemic Awareness Packet. (Note how each increases slightly in difficulty, but still reviews the previous worksheet skill - a very efficient memory technique).

Example from Skill 1 Worksheet	Example from Skill 2 Worksheet	Example from Skill 3 Worksheet	Example from Skill 4 Worksheet	Example from Skill 5 Worksheet
CHOOSE THE SOUND By giving 2 choices for each sound (beginning - middle and ending) we eliminate frustration and increase success and self-esteem	BEGINNING SOUND The more difficult skill of "recalling" (remembering without choices) the beginning consonant sound, but middle and ending sound use the easier recognition memory technique.	BEGINNING ENDING SOUNDS Overcomes the traditional problem children have differentiating "beginning" and "ending" sounds by placing answer spaces at the "beginning" and "end" of the picture word.  (Why didn't someone think of this before?) This visual way of teaching beginning and ending sounds makes a world of difference for helping children successfully grasp this important Phonemic Awareness concept.	VOWEL SOUNDS Vowel Sounds are the most difficult to learn for children.  In SKILL 1 and 2 the child had the easier task of picking the vowel sound from two choices.  In this skill, however, the child must completely recall the vowel sound without any helping clues.   We still keep the clues for the beginning and ending sounds.	TEST TIME No clues with this skill.  The child must truly remember all sounds to spell the word correctly. After the child completes the worksheet, the teacher marks any incorrectly spelled words and the child then re-writes the word correctly in the second space provided. By "piggy-backing" the answer spaces the child is much more likely to remember (and avoid) his previous error.

(6 pages)
ORDER GRADE 1 PROGRAM