CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.3

ELA1st GradeText Types and Purposes

The Standard

Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards

What This Standard Means

Students need to write a short story from their own life or imagination with at least two events in order. They should add simple details, use time words like first, next, then, and finally, and end the piece in a way that feels finished.

Mastery looks like a reader can follow what happened without asking, “Wait, what came next?” Students often skip steps, list events with no details, or stop suddenly. Many need help choosing a small moment, not a whole day, and using ending sentences beyond “The end.”

Ways to Teach It

Give students three picture cards from a familiar routine and have them arrange, tell, then write the events in order.
Prompt students to write: Tell about a time you got ready for something, using first, next, then, and finally.
Read a student draft and ask students to circle time words, underline two events, and box the ending sentence.
Show a simple recipe or bus schedule and discuss how order words help people know what to do next.