CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.4

ELA1st GradeVocabulary Acquisition and Use

The Standard

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 1 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Language Standards

What This Standard Means

Students need to figure out what a new word means instead of skipping it. They should use clues in the sentence, pictures, word parts, and what they already know about the topic. They also need to notice that some words have more than one meaning, like bat, bark, or light.

Mastery looks like a student saying, “I think it means...” and giving a reason from the text or picture. Many first graders guess from only the first letter, pick a meaning that does not fit, or wait for the teacher to tell them.

Ways to Teach It

Give pairs picture cards and sentence strips with words like bark, light, and ring, then have them match the meaning that fits.
Ask students to write or tell, “The word ___ might mean ___ because ___,” after hearing a short read-aloud page.
Show one sentence with an underlined word, then have students choose the best meaning from three picture choices and explain why.
Bring in a school menu, weather chart, or classroom sign, and ask students to find one tricky word and use clues to explain it.