First Grade Reading Objectives for Storytime

Story Details

• In listening to a story, first grade pupils learn the parts of a story and can identify the beginning middle and ending. They identify characters in the story and its setting. They describe the plot of the story. Students learn to sequence the story and use the details to retell the story. They summarize the story using sequencing skills.

Decoding Strategies

• Teachers introduce new words through the stories presented in first grade story time. The students learn to use context clues from the story and pictures in the book to understand the meaning of the unfamiliar words. The teacher may assist the process by asking questions about the story or pointing out details in the illustration. She may provide a definition if a student requests it, or she might work with the student to use context clues to figure it out.

Problem Solving

• The teacher presents problems and solutions through the story. She teaches students to identify the simple problems and solutions when retelling the story. The students use this skill to identify cause and effect. The teacher could ask students to identify other possible solutions the character didn't use and how those solutions change the outcome.

Prediction

• Using the pictures in the book and the events of the story, a teacher shows students how to predict the next events in the story. For example, if the wolf tricked and ate the grandmother and now hides in her bed, the students could predict the wolf will try to eat the granddaughter next. After the students provide the prediction, the teacher turns the page and reveals how well the students predicted the next event.

Literacy

• Story time improves student vocabulary. The students identify common words on the high frequency word chart for first grade. Students learn letter sounds through the stories and utilize the phonics skills they learn in other reading activities to read the words in the story.

Listening and Recall

• The students improve listening and recall skills through story time activities. If the teacher compares several stories from the reading circle, first grade pupils should recall and supply details from previous stories.