California's First Grade Writing Standards

Writing Standard 1.0 -- Writing Strategies

• This standard focuses on the ability to write clear, coherent sentences and to combine them into paragraphs that develop a main idea. The sentences and paragraph should show evidence of consideration for audience and purpose. As they write, students should be engaging in the formal writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing).

  This standard's three subheadings call for the ability to select a focus when writing, the frequent use of descriptive words and the ability to print legibly so that others can read and understand what was written.

Writing Standard 2.0 -- Writing Applications

• This standard focuses on the ability to write coherent compositions in Standard American English that describe and explain personal experiences and observations.

  This standard's two subheadings call specifically for the ability to write both fictional and autobiographical narratives and expository, descriptive pieces using sensory details.

Written and Oral English Language Conventions Standard 1.0

• This standard focuses on the ability to both write and speak with appropriate command of the English language.

  There are eight subheadings contained within this standard, which refer to the following skills. First, students are expected to speak and write in complete sentences. They should be able to identify and correctly use singular and plural nouns, as well as contractions and singular and plural possessives. In the realm of punctuation, students should be able to distinguish between declarative, exclamatory and interrogative sentence types and correctly utilize corresponding punctuation and capitalization rules. Finally, students should be able to correctly spell age-appropriate three- and four-letter sight words and short vowel sound words.

General Information

• These standards were adopted by the California State Board of Education in 1997. All first grade teachers in public and charter schools in the state are expected to cover these topics extensively and ensure student mastery. This is assessed via the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR) test, a standardized test taken by all public and charter first graders at the end of the school year.