1st Grade Behavior

Each child is unique in her emotional and behavioral development. Children may show behaviors that are ahead of developmental milestones in some areas and behind the milestones in other areas. Children also do not develop at a consistent rate. They may seem to show no growth for long time and then show a lot of growth in a short span of time. The following social and emotional expectations are general and to be used as a guideline to help you understand your child's development.

What to expect from your child in 1st grade

Children at this age...

• often have short attention spans. Routines will be used in the classroom to help keep students focused on learning new skills. Teachers will change classroom tasks often to keep students engaged.
• have a lot of energy and will run and move throughout the classroom. Classroom and household rules will need to be reviewed with your child often.
• may struggle to understand the difference between fantasy verses reality. They may not understand that cartoon characters are not real, or that they do not possess super powers like they see on television and in the movies.
• may have difficulty understanding someone else's point of view.
• will often only try things they know they can do. As their confidence builds, they will begin to try new things.

Grade Level Content Expectations

The Michigan Department of Education requires children in first grade to learn the following skills:

• Describe ways family members and friends help each other
• Talk about how important listening and paying attention are for making and keeping friends
• Find out how others are feeling and predict how other people will feel
• Be able to tell what is it about people that help them make decisions and solve problems
• Explain and use steps for decision making and problem solving
• Use effective listening skills and the ability to pay attention
• Practice giving and accepting a compliment or statement of appreciation
• Use "please," "thank you," "excuse me," and "I am sorry" in appropriate situations