| First grade is a great year for students. This is the | | | | Option No. 2: Storytime |
| year that they really get to explore the world of | | | | Introducing first graders to great literary characters is |
| academics. Reading is one subject that first graders | | | | a great way to (1) peak their interest in reading and |
| are officially introduced to. It is important for first | | | | to (2) develop their reading skills. While they may not |
| graders to acquire the basics of reading during this | | | | be able to read all the words at first in the story |
| grade otherwise they will struggle with all of their | | | | books that they select, as they read along with you |
| subjects. However, while many students learn the | | | | they will pick up more and more words until they are |
| basic skills required for reading at grade level and | | | | able to read you the book from cover to cover. |
| above, many students struggle with reading at first. | | | | Option No. 3: Composition Drills |
| Fortunately, there are 1st grade reading tutoring | | | | Repetition is key to learning how to read and to |
| exercises that tutoring services and tutors can | | | | write. Because of this you can help first graders to |
| complete with students to help them develop the | | | | develop their literacy skills by having them complete |
| reading skills needed to become proficient readers. | | | | journaling exercises. Their journaling exercises are not |
| Option No. 1: Flash Cards | | | | going to be elaborate stories, instead they will most |
| One of the most effective reading exercises that | | | | likely be lists of vocabulary words and phrases. |
| you can offer first graders is flash card drills. These | | | | Option No. 4: Magnetic Word Exercises |
| drill will pair graphics of the word with the written | | | | Another fun reading exercise that you can complete |
| form of the word. Flash cards work well because | | | | is to use magnetic words to put together sentences. |
| they use repetition to help the student to quickly | | | | This can be a fun project to do with first graders. |
| associate the written word with a graphic. Flash cards | | | | For example you work with your first graders to |
| are popular with first graders, their parents and | | | | write a story or describe a scene using magnetic |
| teachers because they are easy to make, | | | | words on a metal board. |
| inexpensive and easy to store and use. | | | | |