Your First-Grader and Math
First-graders develop their math skills in a number of ways as they learn about computation, measurement, patterns, shapes, time and money.
By GreatSchools.net Staff
In Your Child's Classroom

What math concepts will my first-grader learn?
In first grade, learning in math occurs on many different fronts.

What to look for when you visit
  • Simple bar and pictorial graphs on large pieces of paper on display
  • Students using "math manipulatives" — blocks, cards, buttons for counting and sorting, as well as students making the transition away from counting and sorting objects to "mental math"
  • Calendars and clocks, as first-graders learn about time, days and months, and the concepts of before and after
  • Students engaged in measuring objects using measuring cups and rulers
Children learn about computation, numbers and number sense, measurement, patterns, shapes, money and telling time.

You will begin to see a dramatic shift in your child's development. He will start to look at the world more logically and will understand cause and effect. When they are younger, children can't readily understand an adult's point of view, but starting at age 6 or so, this changes.

Nicola Salvatico, our consulting teacher and Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year in 2005, explains: "Math in first grade begins to connect the real world to the child's point of view." This shift will certainly play a role in your child's growing knowledge of math as well as allowing many teaching opportunities at home, such as measuring recipe ingredients, counting change or estimating how much time it takes to get from home to your place of destination.

Patterns and shapes
First-graders learn to sort objects by color, shape and function, and to recognize patterns. Your first-grader should be able to sort a mixed group of blocks so that all the red blocks are in one group and all the blue blocks are in another.

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If blocks are placed on a table in this way — red block, blue block, red block, blue block — your first-grader should be able to predict which color block should come next to continue the pattern as well as creating another pattern with similar features.

First-graders learn to distinguish two-dimensional and three-dimensional geometric shapes such as triangles, squares, cones and cylinders. They will also be able to identify the shapes of items in the classroom or home.

Numbers
By the end of first grade, your child should be able to count to 100 by ones, twos, fives and 10s, and to have a sense of how big the number 100 is. She should also be able to begin counting at any number you choose between 0-100.

She should be able to write the words for the numbers from one to 12. Your child is introduced to the concepts of "more" and "less," and will work with simple graphs through analyzing and creating.

Computation
Your first-grader will work to learn addition and subtraction facts with numbers up to 20. First-graders start moving away from counting objects (or "math manipulatives," as they are called in school), to doing more mental math. Simple word problems are introduced, such as: I have three marbles and give one to my friend; how many do I have left?

Money
First-graders learn about coins and their value. They learn how different combinations of coins can add up to the same amount. There may be a "store" set up in the classroom with a play cash register, play money and objects with price tags, where your child can practice counting money and exchanging items for money.

Measurement
Standard measuring tools, as well as units of measurement, are topics for first-grade math. First-graders will practice measuring using inches, cups and quarts. They learn to read a clock face and tell time to the half-hour.

Updtaed August 2007

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Comments From GreatSchools.net Users
04/28/2008:
"First-graders learn about coins and their value. "
02/25/2008:
"Because of No Child Left Behind, teachers are forced to focus primarily on struggling students, rather than those that can master the material. Teachers now teach to the average student and the struggling, because their job depends upon these actions. Public schools are full of students that have no support at home. Teachers become both home and school support for these students. I agree, that it is not fair. Unfortunately, our government has taken the focus off the child as an individual and replaced it with the child as a peice of data to analyze."
02/19/2008:
"IT SEEMS AS IF MY SON DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DO HIS HOMEWORK WHEN HE COMES HOME FROM SCHOOL WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP HIM REMEMBER AND ALSO ENCOURGE HIM TO DO IT. HE ALSO HAS A PROMBLEM WITH STAYING FOCUS ON DOING HIS HOMEWORK. I WENT TO SIT IN HIS CLASS TO SEE HOW HIS PROFORMS WAS IN SCHOOL AND HE WASN'T EVEN PAYING ATTENTION TO HIS TEACHER WHAT CAN I DO? HELP HELP!!!!!!!"
01/31/2008:
"My daughter too is an early reader. At not quite five and a half, she reads at a second grade level and her math skills are considered first/second grade. She also has interests that are considered very sophisticated for her age (scientific inquiry is her passion). I consulted with some very wise teachers at her public school kindergarten readiness testing and decided that I would go ahead and enter her at kindergarten level rather than skip a grade. Smartest decision I ever made... Her academic skills may be off the charts, but her social skills are right where they should be for the rest of the group. She complained about the work being 'too easy' in the beginning, so I talked with her teacher who, it turned out, was already on it and was placing her for accelerated learning sessions while still allowing her to interact with kids her age. It was a great solution. I also teach her at home - I know that there are many things she isn't going to be exposed to in a public school setting - but I would never, ever consider home schooling. The opportunity she has to make friends her own age and to see how the rest of the world really works is just too valuable to miss. I attended private schools as a child, and, while they certainly can afford to be more academically oriented, will still recommend that children be given the opportunity to explore their childhoods in a positive, social-skill building manner. Don't worry so much about what is happening at this age in the classroom. Speak to your child's teacher if you are concerned that he/she is disengaged. I'm sure they will work with you to help your little one find something great about school, while recognizing that your kid has special talents that need to be nurtured."
10/2/2007:
"I am facing the same challenge as some of the other parents comments I have read. My daughter could read, write, and do 'first-grade' math prior to entering kindergarten. This is her first year in a public school and she is very bored and is tired of what she calls 'baby work.' I am concerned that the school system is going to hault her progression in academics or at least bring her down to their level. I have considered skipping her ahead, but have no real faith that the school system will urge her to be an 'A' student rather than an average one. They want all children to be on the same level, not recognizing that all children don't learn at the same pace. For now I continue her excelled studies at home in addition to her regular schoolwork, but do you have any other suggestions? "
09/24/2007:
"After reading the comments of several parents it appears all have the same though.. They all want their child to excell.My child as well was with Montessori for his pre-school and was in kindergarten with the public school system. There is surely a vast difference in the academic quality of a public school and private schools. The Public school keeps in mind the overall students learning skills and hence is found to be below the standard for kids like mine as well who had exposure to better education in Montessori school. I believe it all comes to the teachers which can increase the quality of education in public schools. "
09/20/2007:
"For those considering skipping a grade or attending private school: My daughter is in first grade and has also learned all of this already. She attends a small, public school in NJ. The school does not allow any child to skip grades. Instead, they provide advanced curriculum on a case-by-case basis. I believe they are able to do this because the classes are small (less than 15 children) and the parents are required to participate. It's working beautifully for my daughter. She is happy and progressing, and my husband and I are very pleased with this arrangement. Talk to the teacher and/or principal before you decide to enter private school or skip a grade. They may accomodate your advanced child, especially if you convey that you will do a little extra to help. Good luck."
09/20/2007:
"For those considering skipping a grade or attending private school: My daughter is in first grade and has also learned all of this already. She attends a small, public school in NJ. The school does not allow any child to skip grades. Instead, they provide advanced curriculum on a case-by-case basis. I believe they are able to do this because the classes are small (less than 15 children) and the parents are required to participate. It's working beautifully for my daughter. She is happy and progressing, and my husband and I are very pleased with this arrangement. Talk to the teacher and/or principal before you decide to enter private school or skip a grade. They may accomodate your advanced child, especially if you convey that you will do a little extra to help. Good luck."
09/18/2007:
"We have a grandson who turned six in August. He is in the first grade. The school wanted him to repeat kindergarten but we fought for him to go on to first grade. He is slightly behind due to extensive hospitalizations in the past. He is struggling a litle but is still borderline. We had heard that most children will equal out by third grade. Is this true and should we continue to work with him? We don't want him to get frustrated, but we also don't want him to repeat just so that the work is easier for him. We want him to be challenged and he is so proud to be a first grader. Any comments, please?"
09/18/2007:
"My son knows all of the stuff described above. He does have problems with staying inside the lines with writing. But that something we work on. Should he be in first grade. I am scared he is getting bored. What should I do. "
09/18/2007:
"Excellent articles and I appreciate the help and guidance. A very useful tool."
09/18/2007:
"The information regarding our children's education at school is greatly appreciated. You are doing a wonderful job. Thank you."
09/12/2007:
"My son entered 1st grade this year in the public school system. He also attended Kindergarten at the same public school for gifted & talented kids. He previously attended Montessori school through 5 years old. He mastered the skills mentioned in the article before Kindergarten. We were concerned that Kindergarten might be too slow for him, but yielded for social growth. Now I am more concerned that 1st grade will slow him down even more. While Kindergarten helped socially, I am now concerned academically. I would appreciate your advice on skipping a grade (or 2). All that I read on the topic states that if they are ready academically, then it is best skip grades. Comments?"
09/12/2007:
"Thank you for this very pertinent information, I was just talking to my wife about we need to make sure Eddie can tell time on a clock, know his money, to include coins and math in genral looks like he is on his way this year in 1st grade, thx again."
09/12/2007:
"It was so much fun to read this email and make a connection to all of the recent questions my 1st grader is asking. Mommy, how long we're we here. Was it 60 minutes? How long is 60 minutes? It's wonderful and I'm so excited that he is taken it all in and asking questions at home. Thanks for this website!"
09/12/2007:
"My child is currently in Montessori as well as Kumon. Comparing the work she currently has to the first grade level work-she is definetly advanced. She is currently in Pre-K , missed the cut off date for Kindergarten, will be 5 this month. This article is great to more about the public school systems and their process. I do not think I will put her in public school because she may get bored. My daughter craves the learning and I am not pushing her in any way. I dont want to come across like one of those pushy moms. Thanks ...."
09/11/2007:
"Thanks so much for the emails on each grade and what they are working on! It helps me so I can also work on the skills at home and prepare my child for what he is likely to see and learn in his current grade! I really appreciate the info. Keep up the great work! "
09/11/2007:
"good tips. Some of these skills my first grader all ready knows. such as the patterns and sorting. Others however sounds just like what he is now learning. The teacher does have a 'store' with all the things noted above."
09/11/2007:
"Thank you so much for your informative article. My son, who just turned 6 in June entered the public school system last week as a first grader. He was previously in Montessori for 3 years and had a wonderful kindergarten year that for the most part, encompassed everything in your summation and then some. By the end of kindergarten, he finished the '1000 chain' which means he could count to 1000 divisable by two's thru tens, as well as reading chapter books. In reading your article, I now have concern about maintaining his current level of progress in public school. I signed him up for the weekly math enrichment class after school through the district, but is there more I should be doing to make sure that he can work at the level he is used to so that he can continue to be challenged. Any advice would be appreciated!"
09/11/2007:
"I loved your article. Although I did see a program on Ch. 7 or 9 here in CA, where a math genius showed how to do math in a fun and easy way. Unfortunately, I can't remember his name, but he is now a math teacher I think in New York. It would be just wonderful to incorporate this kind of teaching in all US schools. This math teacher shows students and adults alike how to do multiplation and other complicated math problems IN THEIR HEAD. Imagine maybe this way, in the long run, our country would not have to outsource jobs to other countries. "
06/20/2007:
"i think this is a little behind my daughter just finished kindergarten and already knows all the skills you have listed here. i hope this doesn't mean she will now be bored in first grade. she is very intelligent and her title 1 preschool teachers recommended that she skip kindergarten and i decided not to entertain that idea should i think about her skipping the first grade?"
09/25/2006:
"Excellent tips. I like the way the standards were deleneated. Easy for all to understand!"
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