Grade Level Writing Expectations - First Grade

Writes Clearly and Effectively

Ideas/Development

Selects a wide range of topics for writing
Writes simple accounts with some elaboration, especially description or explanation

Organization

Shows attention to beginning, middle, and end in a piece of writing
Sequences two or three events or items of information
Answers a simple question in a complete sentence
Uses some simple conjunctions (e.g., and, then, but, so)

Voice

Express individuality in drawing and writing
Uses more than one sentence structure in a piece of writing
Writes in first and third person
Experiment with new or favorite words
Use naming and action words
Use colorful language to evoke a mental picture in own writing

Sentence Fluency

Uses more than one sentence structure in a piece of writing
Writes in first and third person

Word Choice

Experiment with new or favorite words
Use naming and action words
Use colorful language to evoke a mental picture in own writing

Conventions
Spelling	Capitalization	Punctuation	Grammar & Usage	Sentences / Paragraphs
Conventional spelling of high frequency and grade-level words Some common spelling patterns (e.g., sat, mat) Phonetic spelling on other words, including vowels Includes all consonant and some vowel sounds in phonetic spelling	First word in a sentence Pronoun "I" Names of people Days of the week Months	Period, question mark, or exclamation point at end of sentence	Correct use of singular and plural nouns	Spaces between words Complete simple sentences Questions Exclamations Writes legibly

Understands and Uses the Writing Process

Prewriting

Brainstorms, makes lists, and sometimes formulates first sentence before writing

Drafting

Uses own ideas through drawings, vocabulary, and spelling to create text

Sharing/Responding

Shares work and gets feedback from peers and family

Revising

Understands a first draft requires checking and usually revision
Reads own work and makes some revision or editorial changes, especially punctuation

Editing

Edits to meet 1st grade standards of conventions

Publishing

Publishes work crediting author and illustrator; sometimes includes dedication
Enhances published work with appropriate graphics and illustrations
Discusses own writing
Selects own writing to publish

Reflecting

Evaluates effort and product, though often by amount written
Refers to self as a writer
Self-reflects on piece selected for portfolio based on learning that took place

Addresses Audience, Purpose, and Form

Writes cards, letters, and notes to communicate with friends
Retells in some detail and in correct sequence

Suggested Text Forms

	Literature or Literary Forms	Informational, Task-oriented, and/or Technical Writing
New to Grade Level	Recounts Rhymes Retellings	Recounts Answers to questions
Previously Introduced	Narrative: experiential stories Narrative: fictional stories Labels Personal letters, cards, and notes Diaries/journals labels	Captions Informational sentence