CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.1

ELA1st GradeConventions of Standard English

The Standard

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Language Standards

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students speak and write complete sentences with nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and common connecting words. They choose forms that fit the meaning, such as singular or plural nouns and present, past, or future verbs.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can produce a clear, complete sentence, then add a describing word or join ideas with and, but, or or. The student uses common nouns, pronouns, prepositions, and verb forms correctly in conversation and writing.
Common Misconceptions: Students may write fragments that name a person or thing but give no action. They may mix singular nouns with plural verbs, shift verb tense, or use unclear pronouns. They often overapply patterns, producing words such as “childs” or “goed.”
How to Assess It: Ask students to write two sentences about recess. In one, tell what one child does, and in the other, tell what two children did yesterday.

Lesson moves

Give pairs word cards to build a sentence, then replace one child with two children and change other words that no longer fit.
Ask students to explain how changing today to yesterday changes the action word, then revise and read both versions aloud.
Play Sentence Fix-It: display a fragment or mismatched sentence, and teams earn a point by correcting it and naming the change.
Students write three classroom directions for a substitute, using clear action verbs, location words, and complete sentences.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Learning progression

See the whole path on the Language progression map.

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

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