Although first graders may be more prepared than kindergartners to sit at desks and complete school work, they continue to be a very active group. Sitting still and attending to tasks will continue to be difficult for many students. In addition to being active, first graders are slowly gaining control of their bodies and tend to be clumsy. This often leads to minor injuries or accidents. First grade students tend to be in a constant state of hurry. It is typical for their work may be sloppy and rushed. First graders are working through a stage of teething, so teachers will often see first grade students chewing on their pencils, fingernails and erasers. Lastly, students are becoming more proficient with using their fingers to write, draw and manipulate objects. As these muscles continue to strengthen throughout the year, their handwriting will become more defined and legible.
First graders love to play and tend to be competitive with classmates. They thrive on being first to finish or win the game which may result in poor sportsmanship or hurt feelings. First grade students tend to develop friendships with classmates of the same sex, but sometimes struggle with being bossy or dishonest. However, first graders thrive on positive attention and rewards, so teachers often encourage appropriate behavior with reinforcement and surprises. Moods and feelings can change quickly with first graders as they become aware of their social image and status. Overall, first graders strive for positive interactions with peers and adults and are developing moral and social character traits everyday.
A first grader's language is developing rapidly everyday. Students enjoy and better understand jokes, riddles and word play. Their everyday language tends to be enthusiastic, expressive and exaggerated. First graders love telling stories and sharing experiences, but also frequently complain. First graders also enjoy asking questions and discussing with classmate. Students' expressive and receptive vocabularies increase rapidly during the first grade year and they enjoy utilizing their newly acquired skills.
One of the joys of working with first graders is their motivation to learn and their enthusiasm for school. First grade students succeed with explorative and problem-based tasks. Although their knowledge of written language is expanding everyday, most students will still have letter and number reversals while writing. Intellectually, first graders become more aware of causal relationships and concepts of time, such as past and present. Popular interests include coloring, painting, reading, and computers. Although their attention span may still be limited, first graders enjoy "work" and are typically eager to please.