First Grade Spelling Words – Curriculum, Spelling Word Lists & Resources

First Grade Spelling Curriculum Sequence

The spelling curriculum for first grade is to start with basic Consonant-Vowel-Consonant words.

For example, a starting point for many first grade spelling lists are: DAD and MOM. Children then start to expand the list by working through “word families”. From DAD, they would cover BAD, SAD, HAD, and MAD. Also, they might vary the vowel and go to DID. From there children could shift to CAT, BAT, FAT, and SAT as well as CAR and BAR.

In first grade, spelling skills should grow to cover the blends such as T plus R make the TR sound such as in TREE. F and R blend to make the FR sound in FROG.

Remember, every child learns at a different rate, so what works for for 85% of the students, may not be the correct approach for your child. Which is why so many parents enjoy Time4Learning’s self-paced, modularized lesson plans. You can skip lessons that teach concepts your child has already mastered and repeat those he or she has not. The choice is yours.

Foundational Spelling Skills

Spelling skills should develop as part of an overall language arts, phonics, reading comprehension, vocabulary and reading fluency, grammar, reading and writing program.

With help from their parents, children can develop and reinforce foundational spelling skills through the following activities:

1. Regular writing for a head start on spelling, punctuation, and other concepts
2. Constant reading or use of reading workbooks
3. Frequent study of spelling rules like the relationships between letters and sounds
4. Spelling bees for a fun way for your child to practice their spelling
5. Playing of spelling games, quizzes or word games to help develop their spelling skills
6. Structured computer spelling programs
7. Personalized tutoring and assistance to boost confidence
8. Setting daily blocks of time for spelling and reading activities
9. Instruction through guided spelling activities like word sorts or word boxes
10. Creating a rich language environment at home based on the quantity and quality of words spoken

Time4Learning teaches a comprehensive first grade spelling curriculum using fun activities to build a solid spelling foundation. Help your child excel in spelling by trying out one of our Time4Learning’s first grade demos.

First Grade Spelling Words List

What spelling words should your first grader know? Here is a list of 50+ words that are great for use in spelling games, tests, or practice for an upcoming spelling bee. To add more value, download our 1st grade spelling list printable worksheet with +300 words and writing sheets!

VocabularySpellingCity offers a fun and easy cross-curricular word study with vocabulary, spelling, phonics, and writing activities.

Create your own spelling lists or use one of our 10,000 + pre-made lists. Students will feel like they're playing while they master each week's words.

First Grade Spelling Resources

If you’re interested in first grade spelling lists or vocabulary words, you might also be interested in:

• Our lesson planning worksheet can help you estimate how many lessons to have your child do each day
• First grade curriculum overview with a summary of key first grade learning objectives
• Detailed list of first grade language arts lesson plans
• First grade math lesson plans with brief activity descriptions and learning activity numbers
• First grade writing skills and standards by Time4Writing
• First Grade Vocabulary and Spelling Lists – a free website that offers a fun and easy way to practice vocabulary and spelling words. Create your spelling list using the vocabulary words below and let SpellingCity teach them, use them in games and test your kids on them!

At first, I was skeptical about using a computer program for reading. But the progress we made is really clear and I couldn't be happier that we tried it!

In sixth grade language arts, there is an emphasis on reading comprehension and writing skills.

Additional Helpful Parent Tools & Resources

Welcome to Homeschooling Guide – Are you new to homeschooling? This guide was written by seasoned homeschoolers to answer some of the difficult questions new families often struggle with.

Curriculum Lesson Plans – An overview of the number of lessons that are included for each grade and subject. All students have access to at least 2 (and in most cases 3) grade levels of curriculum for each subject, so they can move ahead or review at their own pace.

The Lesson Activity Finder – One of the many helpful tools that Time4Learning offers its members. The activity finder is a shortcut that makes it easy for parents to preview lessons or find extra practice for their child. You can visit our hints and help section for more information about the activity finder.

Lesson Planning Worksheet – Wondering how many lessons to have your child do each day? Estimate the number of activities per day using this easy to use, printable worksheet.

Online Parent’s Forum – Reach out to homeschoolers in your area, join discussions, ask questions and trade ideas on our online community of homeschooling parents. Having the support of seasoned homeschoolers can really help make your homeschooling journey a success.