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English Language Arts (Grade 1)

English Language Arts instruction in Norfolk Public Schools is guided by the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for ELA and grounded in the science of reading. Instruction includes explicit phonics lessons, vocabulary development, comprehension strategies, and opportunities for writing across genres. Students participate in interactive read-alouds, shared reading and writing, small-group instruction, and independent practice.

In First Grade, students develop fluency with decoding and begin reading grade-level texts with greater accuracy and expression. They continue to strengthen phonics and spelling skills, expand vocabulary, and practice comprehension strategies such as retelling, predicting, and making connections. In writing, students compose short narratives, informational pieces, and opinion writing, using pictures and words to communicate clearly.