Reading comprehension is an important part of any teaching plan. It is not merely enough to let a child read; they must also understand what it is they are reading. As you read longer stories, a story map can help students keep track of what is going on in the story. A story map allows students to write down important characters and events in the book so that they can easily keep track of the narrative. If they forget something from earlier in the story, they can refer to the story map for a reminder.
Calling on students to read, answer a question or other tasks keeps students alert and engaged in class. You don't want to call on the same student multiple times though or forget to call on others, so create a system to keep track. One suggestion is to have a jar handy with each student's name on a piece of paper, card or even a wooden craft stick. When you need to call on a student, pick one out of the jar, then leave it out until all the names are out of the jar. Then put all the names back in and start all over again.
In first grade, you might often get a set of students who are at very different levels when it comes to reading. If this is the case, you can use a grouping strategy to better help children with similar capabilities. Divide the class up into three or four groups based on their reading skills. Work individually with each group at its own level, allowing the students to learn without the pressure of comparing themselves to children with better reading skills. Make sure to assign work to the the other groups while they are waiting for their turn with you. Ensure that the assigned work is productive and is helping students learn rather than just busy work with no real academic use.
Instead of going straight into a math lesson, it might be better to break it up into sections to help children retain the information. Spend the first five to seven minutes on an introduction that will help children anticipate what the math lesson will be about. You can get creative, even using songs or literature in your intro. Spend the next 20 to 25 minutes covering the new material in depth. Afterward, allow for 10 to 15 minutes of independent practice and study. Finally, the last five minutes of class should be spent on a review of what was just learned.