A comprehensive first-grade language arts curriculum that develops foundational writing, grammar, spelling, and communication skills through a Christian worldview. Students learn to express themselves clearly in writing and speech, using language as a gift from God to communicate truth, beauty, and love.
Write opinion, informative, and narrative pieces with clear sequence and supporting details
Print all letters legibly with appropriate spacing and develop fluent handwriting habits
Use complete sentences with correct capitalization, punctuation, and basic parts of speech
Spell high-frequency words and apply phonics patterns to write unknown words
Participate in discussions by listening actively, building on others' ideas, and speaking clearly
Click any week to see daily lesson details.
Explore how God gave us the gift of language. Discuss Genesis 2:19-20 where Adam names the animals, showing that God designed us to communicate.
Oral language development; understanding language originsdiscussionPractice writing first and last names with proper letter formation and spacing. Discuss how God knows each of our names.
Handwriting legibility; name writinghands-onReview proper formation of uppercase and lowercase letters, focusing on correct starting points and directionality.
Letter formation reviewhands-onLearn the importance of finger spaces between words. Practice writing simple sentences with appropriate spacing.
Word spacing in sentenceshands-onIdentify complete sentences versus fragments. Practice speaking and writing complete thoughts about God's creation.
Complete sentence recognitiondiscussionIntroduction to nouns as naming words. Sort pictures into categories: people, places, and things that God created.
Identifying common nounshands-onLearn that proper nouns (specific names) begin with capital letters. Practice capitalizing names of people and Bible characters.
Capitalizing proper nounsworksheetRead a simple Bible story together and identify nouns (people, places, things). Circle common nouns and underline proper nouns.
Distinguishing common and proper nounsdiscussionIntroduce singular (one) and plural (more than one) nouns. Practice adding -s to make regular plurals.
Forming regular plural nounshands-onCreate a mini-book with drawings and labels of nouns from the creation story (day, night, stars, animals, plants).
Applying noun knowledge in writingprojectIntroduction to verbs as action words. Act out different verbs and identify them in sentences about Bible stories.
Identifying verbshands-onExplore verbs that describe what God does (creates, loves, forgives, protects). Write sentences using these powerful action words.
Using verbs in sentencesdiscussionLearn that verbs can show actions happening now (present tense). Practice using present tense verbs in sentences.
Using present tense verbsworksheetIntroduce past tense verbs (actions that already happened). Add -ed to regular verbs and retell a Bible story using past tense.
Using past tense verbsdiscussionPlay a game acting out verbs while classmates or family members guess. Write sentences using the verbs performed.
Reinforcing verb recognition and usagegameLearn that complete sentences have a subject (who or what) and a predicate (what they do). Practice identifying both parts.
Understanding sentence structurediscussionUse sentence strips to build complete sentences by combining subjects and predicates. Ensure each sentence makes sense.
Constructing complete sentenceshands-onIdentify sentence fragments (incomplete thoughts) and fix them by adding missing subjects or predicates.
Correcting sentence fragmentsworksheetPractice expanding simple sentences by adding details (when, where, how). Make sentences more interesting and descriptive.
Elaborating sentences with detailshands-onWrite 3-5 complete sentences describing activities from your day. Share with a partner and check for completeness.
Writing complete sentences independentlyprojectLearn that periods end telling sentences (statements). Practice reading sentences with appropriate stopping intonation.
Using periods correctlydiscussionIdentify questions and learn they end with question marks. Practice writing questions about Bible stories.
Using question markshands-onLearn that exclamation points show strong feeling or excitement. Write sentences expressing joy about God's blessings.
Using exclamation pointsworksheetRead sentences and determine which end punctuation is needed based on sentence type (statement, question, exclamation).
Choosing appropriate end punctuationgameReview declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, and introduce imperative (command) sentences. Practice writing all four types.
Distinguishing sentence typeshands-onReview that the first word of every sentence begins with a capital letter. Practice identifying and correcting capitalization errors.
Capitalizing first word of sentencesworksheetLearn that the pronoun 'I' is always capitalized. Practice writing sentences about ourselves using 'I' correctly.
Capitalizing the pronoun Ihands-onLearn to capitalize days of the week and months of the year. Practice writing dates correctly.
Capitalizing datesdiscussionReview capitalizing names of specific people, including Bible characters and family members. Write about someone special.
Capitalizing names of peoplehands-onPlay a game identifying words that need capital letters in sentences. Correct sentences with capitalization errors.
Applying all capitalization rulesgameReview short 'a' sound in CVC words (cat, bat, hat). Practice spelling and reading words with short 'a'.
Spelling short a wordshands-onLearn short 'e' sound in CVC words (bed, red, ten). Build and spell words with short 'e' using letter tiles.
Spelling short e wordshands-onPractice short 'i' sound in CVC words (big, sit, pin). Sort pictures by short vowel sounds.
Spelling short i wordshands-onIdentify short 'o' sound in CVC words (hot, dog, mop). Write sentences using short 'o' words.
Spelling short o wordsworksheetLearn short 'u' sound in CVC words (sun, cup, bug). Review all five short vowel sounds and spell words.
Spelling short u words; reviewing all short vowelshands-onIntroduction to opinion writing. Discuss what an opinion is and practice stating opinions about favorite things.
Understanding opinion vs. factdiscussionLearn that good opinion writing includes reasons. Practice saying 'I think... because...' about favorite Bible stories.
Supporting opinions with reasonsdiscussionWrite an opinion piece about your favorite season. Include at least one reason why you like it.
Writing opinion with one reasonhands-onWrite an opinion about the best pet, including two reasons. Draw a picture to match your writing.
Writing opinion with multiple reasonsprojectShare opinion writing with a partner or family. Practice speaking clearly and listening to others' opinions respectfully.
Presenting opinion orallydiscussionLearn initial l-blends (bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, sl). Practice reading and spelling words with l-blends.
Spelling words with l-blendshands-onIntroduce r-blends (br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr). Build words using r-blends with magnetic letters.
Spelling words with r-blendshands-onPractice s-blends (sc, sk, sm, sn, sp, st, sw). Sort pictures by their beginning s-blend sounds.
Spelling words with s-blendshands-onLearn final blends (nd, nk, nt, st, mp, ft). Practice spelling words that end with blends.
Spelling words with final blendsworksheetWrite sentences using words with consonant blends. Illustrate your sentences with pictures.
Applying blend knowledge in writingprojectLearn that narratives (stories) have a beginning that introduces characters and setting. Practice writing story beginnings.
Writing narrative beginningsdiscussionUnderstand that the middle of a story tells what happens. Write about events in sequence using temporal words (first, then, next).
Writing narrative middles with sequencehands-onLearn that story endings tell how things turn out and how characters feel. Practice writing satisfying endings.
Writing narrative endingshands-onWrite a personal narrative about a special day, including beginning, middle, and end. Add details about what happened.
Writing complete personal narrativeprojectShare personal narratives with others. Practice listening and asking questions about stories shared.
Presenting narratives orallydiscussionIntroduction to adjectives as describing words. Identify adjectives that describe size, color, shape, and texture.
Identifying adjectivesdiscussionUse adjectives that describe what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Describe objects using sensory words.
Using sensory adjectiveshands-onWrite sentences describing parts of God's creation using vivid adjectives (beautiful sunset, mighty ocean, tiny ant).
Applying adjectives in sentenceshands-onRead a story or Bible passage and hunt for adjectives. Discuss how adjectives make writing more interesting.
Recognizing adjectives in textdiscussionWrite a short descriptive paragraph about your favorite place, using at least five adjectives to paint a picture with words.
Using multiple adjectives in writingprojectIntroduction to high-frequency words that appear often in reading and writing. Learn 10 new sight words.
Recognizing high-frequency wordshands-onPractice spelling high-frequency words correctly. Many don't follow regular phonics rules, so we memorize them.
Spelling high-frequency wordsworksheetBuild sentences using high-frequency words. Practice reading sentences fluently with familiar words.
Using sight words in contexthands-onPlay games to reinforce sight word recognition (bingo, memory match, word hunt). Make learning fun and engaging.
Automaticity with sight wordsgameWrite a short story or paragraph using as many high-frequency words as possible. Focus on correct spelling.
Applying sight words in writingprojectLearn that informative writing teaches readers about a topic using facts. Discuss difference between opinion and informative writing.
Understanding informative writing purposediscussionSelect a topic you know about (animal, hobby, place). Brainstorm facts you can teach others about your topic.
Topic selection and brainstorminghands-onWrite a clear topic sentence that names what you're teaching about. Practice starting with 'This is about...' or 'Let me tell you about...'
Writing topic sentenceshands-onWrite 2-3 sentences with facts about your topic. Include specific details that teach readers something new.
Including facts in informative writinghands-onComplete an informative piece with topic sentence and facts. Add a drawing or diagram to help explain your topic.
Writing complete informative textprojectLearn the ch digraph (two letters, one sound). Practice reading and spelling words with ch (chair, church, lunch).
Spelling words with chhands-onIntroduce the sh digraph. Practice spelling words with sh at the beginning and end (ship, fish, brush).
Spelling words with shhands-onLearn the th digraph (voiced and unvoiced). Practice reading and writing words with th (this, that, both, with).
Spelling words with thworksheetIntroduce the wh digraph, often found in question words. Practice spelling wh words (what, when, where, why, which).
Spelling words with whhands-onWrite sentences or a short story using words with different digraphs. Illustrate your writing.
Applying digraph knowledge in writingprojectLearn that pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition. Introduce personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
Identifying personal pronounsdiscussionPractice choosing the correct pronoun to replace a noun. Match pronouns to the nouns they replace in sentences.
Using correct personal pronounsworksheetIntroduce possessive pronouns (my, your, his, her, its, our, their). Learn they show who owns something.
Using possessive pronounshands-onRewrite sentences replacing repeated nouns with pronouns. Make sentences sound smoother and less repetitive.
Replacing nouns with pronounshands-onRead a paragraph with too many repeated nouns. Edit by replacing some nouns with appropriate pronouns.
Editing for pronoun usageworksheetLearn to use commas between the day and year in dates (January 15, 2024). Practice writing important dates correctly.
Using commas in dateshands-onWrite sentences about special dates (birthdays, holidays, Bible events) using commas correctly.
Applying comma rules in dateshands-onLearn to use commas to separate items in a list of three or more. Practice writing lists with proper comma placement.
Using commas in seriesdiscussionWrite sentences with lists (favorite foods, Bible characters, things in creation) using commas to separate items.
Applying commas in seriesworksheetFind and correct comma errors in sentences. Add missing commas in dates and series.
Editing for comma usagegameLearn the CVCe pattern where silent e at the end makes the vowel say its name (long sound). Compare CVC to CVCe words.
Understanding CVCe patterndiscussionPractice reading and spelling long a CVCe words (cake, name, make, take, brave).
Spelling long a CVCe wordshands-onLearn long i CVCe words (bike, time, five, line, smile). Build words by adding silent e to CVC words.
Spelling long i CVCe wordshands-onPractice long o (hope, home, bone) and long u (cute, tube, huge) CVCe words. Sort by vowel sound.
Spelling long o and u CVCe wordshands-onWrite sentences using CVCe words. Illustrate the difference between short and long vowel words (cap/cape, kit/kite).
Applying CVCe knowledge in writingprojectLearn active listening skills: look at the speaker, think about what they're saying, don't interrupt. Practice listening to a story.
Active listening strategiesdiscussionPractice adding to what others say in discussion. Use phrases like 'I agree because...' or 'That reminds me of...'
Contributing to collaborative discussiondiscussionLearn to ask questions for clarification and deeper understanding. Practice asking who, what, when, where, why, and how questions.
Asking clarifying questionsdiscussionPractice speaking in complete sentences with clear voices. Share about a favorite Bible story using good speaking skills.
Speaking clearly in complete sentenceshands-onParticipate in a structured discussion about a topic. Practice taking turns, listening, and responding appropriately.
Collaborative discussion participationdiscussionLearn that revising means making writing better by adding, removing, or changing words. Revising is different from editing.
Understanding revision processdiscussionPractice adding descriptive details to sentences. Turn boring sentences into interesting ones with adjectives and specific nouns.
Adding details to strengthen writinghands-onLearn to listen to suggestions from teachers and peers about your writing. Practice receiving feedback with a grateful heart.
Responding to suggestionsdiscussionShare writing with a partner and give kind, helpful suggestions. Practice saying what you liked and asking questions.
Peer conferencing skillshands-onChoose a piece of writing from your journal. Revise it by adding details, improving word choice, or making it clearer.
Independent revisionprojectLearn that 'and' connects similar ideas or adds information. Practice combining sentences using 'and'.
Using 'and' to connect ideasdiscussionIntroduce 'but' to show contrast or difference between ideas. Practice writing sentences with 'but'.
Using 'but' to show contrasthands-onLearn that 'or' presents choices or alternatives. Write sentences offering choices using 'or'.
Using 'or' for alternativesworksheetIntroduce 'so' to show cause and effect or results. Practice connecting cause and effect with 'so'.
Using 'so' for cause and effecthands-onCombine simple sentences using conjunctions to create compound sentences. Practice with all four conjunctions.
Creating compound sentenceshands-onLearn that ai and ay make the long a sound. Practice spelling words with these vowel teams (rain, day, train, play).
Spelling ai and ay wordshands-onIntroduce ee and ea vowel teams for long e sound. Spell and read words (tree, see, read, beach).
Spelling ee and ea wordshands-onLearn oa and ow vowel teams for long o sound. Practice with words like boat, goat, snow, grow.
Spelling oa and ow wordshands-onSort words by their vowel teams. Identify patterns and practice reading words with different vowel teams.
Recognizing vowel team patternshands-onWrite a story or sentences using words with different vowel teams. Underline the vowel teams in your writing.
Applying vowel team knowledgeprojectLearn the parts of a good presentation: introduction, main points, conclusion. Choose a topic to present about.
Planning presentation structurediscussionMake a drawing, poster, or visual aid to support your presentation. Learn that pictures help explain ideas.
Creating visual displaysprojectPractice presentation skills: speak loudly, look at audience, stand up straight. Rehearse your presentation.
Presentation delivery skillshands-onPresent your topic to classmates or family. Use your visual display and speak clearly about what you've learned.
Delivering oral presentationhands-onPractice being a respectful audience member. Listen carefully, ask questions, and give positive feedback to presenters.
Active listening during presentationsdiscussionLearn that possessive nouns show ownership. Introduce the apostrophe + s to show possession (dog's bone, Sarah's book).
Understanding possessive nounsdiscussionPractice forming possessive nouns for singular nouns. Add 's to show one person or thing owns something.
Forming singular possessive nounshands-onWrite sentences using possessive nouns to show ownership. Practice correct apostrophe placement.
Using possessive nouns in sentencesworksheetLearn to distinguish between plural nouns (more than one) and possessive nouns (showing ownership).
Distinguishing possessive from pluralhands-onWrite a short story or paragraph using several possessive nouns. Illustrate your story showing ownership.
Applying possessive nouns in writingprojectLearn that r after a vowel changes its sound. Practice ar words (car, star, park, farm, card).
Spelling ar wordshands-onIntroduce or pattern and its sound. Practice reading and spelling or words (for, corn, horn, storm).
Spelling or wordshands-onLearn that er, ir, and ur make the same sound. Practice spelling words with all three patterns (her, bird, turn).
Spelling er, ir, ur wordshands-onSort words by their r-controlled vowel patterns. Read sentences with r-controlled vowel words.
Recognizing r-controlled patternshands-onWrite sentences or a story using words with r-controlled vowels. Highlight the r-controlled vowel patterns.
Applying r-controlled vowel knowledgeprojectLearn that editing means checking for correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. Editing comes after revising.
Understanding editing processdiscussionUse an editing checklist to check for capital letters at the beginning of sentences, in names, and for 'I'.
Editing for capitalizationhands-onCheck writing for correct end punctuation. Make sure every sentence has a period, question mark, or exclamation point.
Editing for punctuationworksheetCircle words that might be spelled incorrectly. Use strategies to check and correct spelling (sound it out, check word wall, ask).
Editing for spellinghands-onChoose a piece of your writing and edit it using the CUPS checklist. Make corrections with care and excellence.
Independent editingprojectIntroduction to prepositions as words that show position or location. Act out prepositions (in, on, under, over, beside).
Identifying prepositionshands-onLearn frequently used prepositions (at, by, for, from, in, of, on, to, with). Use them in sentences about location.
Using common prepositionsdiscussionPractice writing sentences with prepositions to show where things are or when things happen.
Using prepositions in writingworksheetLearn that a prepositional phrase includes a preposition and its object (in the box, under the table, at the park).
Recognizing prepositional phraseshands-onDraw a picture showing objects in different positions. Write sentences using prepositions to describe your picture.
Applying preposition knowledgeprojectLearn that verb tenses tell when an action happens: past (already happened), present (happening now), future (will happen).
Understanding verb tensesdiscussionPractice using present tense verbs for actions happening now. Add -s or -es for singular subjects (he walks, she runs).
Using present tense verbshands-onLearn to form past tense by adding -ed to regular verbs. Practice spelling past tense verbs (walked, jumped, played).
Forming past tense verbsworksheetLearn to show future actions using 'will' before the verb (I will go, she will read, they will play).
Using future tensehands-onWrite a short story or paragraph using all three verb tenses. Tell what happened, what is happening, and what will happen.
Applying verb tense knowledgeprojectLearn that compound words are made by joining two smaller words together (sun + flower = sunflower).
Understanding compound wordsdiscussionPractice building compound words by matching word parts. Create as many compound words as possible.
Forming compound wordshands-onPractice reading compound words by identifying the two smaller words inside. Use this strategy to decode new words.
Decoding compound wordsworksheetPractice spelling compound words correctly. Remember to include both complete words without changes.
Spelling compound wordshands-onWrite sentences using compound words. Illustrate the two words that make up each compound word.
Using compound words in writingprojectLearn that characters are the people or animals in a story. Practice describing characters with details.
Developing story charactersdiscussionUnderstand that setting tells where and when a story happens. Practice describing settings with sensory details.
Creating story settingshands-onLearn that most stories have a problem the character needs to solve. Brainstorm story problems and challenges.
Identifying story problemsdiscussionUnderstand that the solution tells how the problem is solved. Practice creating solutions for story problems.
Developing story solutionshands-onWrite a complete story with character, setting, problem, and solution. Include a beginning, middle, and end.
Writing narrative with story elementsprojectLearn that contractions combine two words into one shorter word. The apostrophe shows where letters are left out.
Understanding contractionsdiscussionPractice forming contractions with 'not' (can't, don't, won't, isn't, aren't). Learn that 'won't' is special.
Forming contractions with nothands-onLearn contractions with 'will' (I'll, he'll, we'll) and 'have' (I've, you've, they've).
Forming contractions with will/haveworksheetPractice contractions with forms of 'be' (I'm, he's, she's, we're, they're). Match contractions to word pairs.
Forming contractions with be verbshands-onWrite sentences and short paragraphs using contractions correctly. Practice apostrophe placement.
Applying contractions in writingprojectLearn that how-to writing teaches readers how to do something by explaining steps in order.
Understanding procedural writingdiscussionPractice using temporal words (first, next, then, last, finally) to show the order of steps.
Using sequence wordshands-onChoose something you know how to do. List the steps in order using a graphic organizer.
Planning procedural writinghands-onWrite your how-to piece with a title, materials needed, and clear steps in order. Use sequence words.
Writing procedural textprojectShare your how-to writing with someone and see if they can follow your steps. Revise if needed for clarity.
Evaluating procedural writingdiscussionLearn that suffixes are word parts added to the end of base words to change their meaning or tense.
Understanding suffixesdiscussionPractice adding -s or -es to nouns (to make plurals) and verbs (for present tense). Learn when to use each.
Using -s and -es suffixeshands-onLearn to add -ed (past tense) and -ing (present progressive) to verbs. Practice with various base words.
Using -ed and -ing suffixesworksheetLearn spelling rules when adding suffixes: drop silent e, double final consonant, change y to i.
Applying suffix spelling ruleshands-onWrite sentences using words with different suffixes. Show understanding of how suffixes change word meanings.
Using suffixes in writingprojectLearn that opinion letters try to convince someone to agree with you. Identify parts of a persuasive letter.
Understanding persuasive writingdiscussionPractice writing clear opinion statements. Choose a topic and state your opinion in one strong sentence.
Writing opinion statementshands-onLearn to support your opinion with at least two strong reasons. Practice using 'because' to connect opinions and reasons.
Supporting opinions with reasonshands-onWrite a complete opinion letter with greeting, opinion statement, reasons, and closing. Use proper letter format.
Writing persuasive letterprojectShare your opinion letter with your audience. Practice speaking persuasively and listening to others' opinions.
Presenting opinion orallydiscussionPractice listening carefully to multi-step directions. Follow 3-4 step directions to complete activities.
Following multi-step directionshands-onLearn to ask questions when directions aren't clear. Practice asking 'What should I do first?' or 'Can you repeat that?'
Asking clarifying questionsdiscussionPractice giving clear, step-by-step oral directions to others. Use sequence words and speak clearly.
Giving oral directionshands-onPlay games that require following multi-step directions (Simon Says variations, treasure hunts, craft projects).
Applying direction-following skillsgameWrite multi-step directions for a simple activity. Test your directions by having someone follow them.
Writing clear directionsprojectPractice describing people using specific details about appearance, personality, and actions. Share descriptions orally.
Describing people with detailsdiscussionLearn to describe places using sensory details (what you see, hear, smell). Describe a favorite place.
Describing places with detailshands-onPractice describing objects in detail using size, color, shape, texture, and function. Make objects interesting.
Describing things with detailsworksheetPrepare a short presentation describing a person, place, or thing. Add drawings or visual displays to enhance description.
Presenting with descriptive detailsprojectWrite a descriptive paragraph using rich details and sensory language. Share your best descriptive writing.
Writing with descriptive detailsprojectReview writing and language skills learned throughout the year. Compare early work to current work and celebrate growth.
Self-assessment and reflectiondiscussionChoose your best piece of writing from the year. Edit, revise, and publish it in final form with illustrations.
Publishing processprojectShare published writing in an Author's Chair celebration. Practice speaking clearly and celebrating others' work.
Presenting published workhands-onPlay review games covering grammar, spelling, and writing skills learned this year. Have fun while reinforcing learning.
Comprehensive reviewgameSet goals for summer reading and writing. Discuss how to use language skills to glorify God during summer break.
Goal setting and applicationdiscussionStart with Day 1 and work through at your own pace. Each lesson builds on the last!