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Updates
It’s been a busy week here in first grade. We have begun using Raz-Kids and will continue with that program through the end of the year. All students will be able to access their accounts over the summer to continue their reading growth.
We will be wrapping up our unit on Japan and finishing our comparing cultures books that we started in the beginning of the year.
We will continue our work on data collection, surveys and the many ways to look at data. Ask your student if their survey question was a yes/no question or a this or that question. What was one thing they learned about our class from our surveys?
Getting Started
Within the pages of this blog for your first graders I have attempted to identify expectations for your students based on district standards. You will be able to access this blog during the summer months should you need any resources, ideas or suggestions.
Information that goes home for the students will also exist on this site. So if you are wondering what your student should be doing, you could always check here to find that information. I will do what I can to keep the resources at your fingertips, however I am bound to forget something so please don’t hesitate to bring it to my attention. I will add it as quickly as I can.
I am looking forward to working with you and your children for the remainder of the school year.
-Mrs. Brown
Good Fit Books
There are lots of great books out there, far more than you’ll find on the DRA2 lists. If you are working on a book and you want to know if it’s a “good fit” or “just right” book here are the steps to help you check:
- Can your child read most of the words on the page?
- Are they using their strategies to figure words out? (chunking, using picture clues, getting the mouth ready with the first sound,)
- Can your child identify the characters and the big idea after reading a small section? (one or two paragraphs or a short page) This can be demonstrated by saying something like “While you were reading I heard that… Would you agree? What do you think will happen next?”
If the answer is no to these questions the book is too challenging and it would be better to find another book.
This said it is important to challenge your student. If you love reading to your child consider stopping at the end of each page and ask questions about who was in the story and what they did. Can you identify plausible predictions based on what has happened so far in the book? What kind of personal connections could be made to help children relate in some way to the story.
It is very common for emerging readers to learn how to say the words printed on the page but not know what they read. Comprehension is a large focus in upcoming grades so setting the framework now is very beneficial.
DRA Level 18-20
DRA2 Level 18-20
Expectations for Second Graders
Author | Title |
Aesop | City Mouse- Country Mouse |
Ahlberg, Allan & Janet | Funny Bones |
Alexander, Martha | Blackboard Bear |
Asch, Frank | Bear Shadow |
Asch, Frank | Bear’s Bargain |
Asch, Frank | SkyFire |
Benchley, Nathaniel | Sam the Minuteman |
Benchley, Nathaniel | Small Wolf |
Berenstain, Stan & Jan | He Bear, She Bear |
Bonsall, Crosby | And I Mean It Stanley |
Bonsall, Crosby | Who’s a Pest? |
Bornstein, Ruth | Little Gorilla |
Bourgeois, Paulette & Clark, Brenda | Franklin Plays the Game |
Brenner, Barbara | Annie’s Pet |
Brenner, Barbara | Color Wizard, The |
Brenner, Barbara | Moon Boy |
Brenner, Barbara | Too Many Mice |
Brown, Margaret Wise | Little Fireman |
Byars, Betsy | My Brother, Ant |
Carle, Eric | Very Hungry Catepillar, The |
Cohen, Miriam | Don’t Eat Too Much Turkey |
Cohen, Miriam | First Grade Takes a Test |
Cohen, Miriam | See You in Second Grade |
Cohen, Miriam | See You Tomorrow, Charles |
Cohen, Miriam | Starring First Grade |
Cole, Joanna | Missing Tooth, The |
Cole, Joanna | Monster Manners |
Cole, Joanna | Norma Jean, Jumping Bean |
Coxe, Molly | Great Snake Escape, The |
Cummings, Pat | Jimmy Lee Did It |
Cushman, Doug | Camp Big Paw |
Degen, Bruce | Jamberry |
DePaola, Tomie | Charlie Needs a Cloak |
Eastman, Philip D. | Best Nest |
Eastman, Philip D. | Sam and the Firefly |
Flack, Marjorie | Ask Mr. Bear |
Galdone, Paul | Little Red Hen, The |
Hayes, Sarah | Elephant and the Bad Baby, The |
Herman, Gail | Otto the Cat |
Hoban, Julia | Buzby |
Hoban, Lillian | Joe and Betsy the Dinosaur |
Hoff, Syd | Danny and the Dinosaur |
Hoff, Syd | Horse in Harry’s Room, The |
Hurd, Edith Thacher | Johnny Lion’s Book |
Hutchins, Pat | Clocks and More Clocks |
Hutchins, Pat | Doorbell Rang, The |
Isadora, Rachel | Max |
Karensky, Stephen | Fraidy Cats |
Keats, Ezra Jack | Peter’s Chair |
Keats, Ezra Jack | Snowy Day, The |
Kessler, Leonard | Kick, Pass, and Run |
Kessler, Leonard | Last One Is a Rotten Egg |
Kraus, Robert | Milton the Early Riser |
LaSeig, Theo | Ten Apples Up on Top |
Levy, Elizabeth | Mystery of the Missing Dog, The |
Lionni, Leo | Little Blue and Little Yellow |
Littledale, Freya | Boy Who Cried Wolf, The |
Lobel, Arnold | Days With Frog and Toad |
Lobel, Arnold | Mouse Soup |
Lobel, Arnold | Mouse Tales |
Lobel, Arnold | Owl at Home |
Lobel, Arnold | Uncle Elephant |
London, Jonathan | Froggie Learns to Swim |
Maccarone, Grace | Sword in the Stone, The |
Marshall, Edward | Fox All Week |
Marshall, Edward | Fox and His Friends |
Marshall, Edward | Fox at School |
Marshall, Edward | Fox in Love |
Marshall, Edward | Fox on Wheels |
Marshall, James | Fox Be Nimble |
Marshall, James | Fox on Stage |
Marshall, James | Fox on the Job |
Marshall, James | Fox Outfoxed |
Mayer, Laura | My Father |
Mayer, Mercer | I Was So Mad |
Mayer, Mercer | There’s An Alligator Under My Bed |
Mayer, Mercer | There’s Something in My Attic |
McCully, Emily Arnold | Grandma Mix-Up, The |
McCully, Emily Arnold | Grandma’s At Bat |
McDonald, Maryann | Hedgehog Bakes a Cake |
Miller, Sara Swan | Better Than TV |
Minarik, Else H. | Little Bear |
Minarik, Else H. | Little Bear’s Friend |
Minarik, Else H. | Little Bear’s Visit |
Minarik, Else, H. | Kiss for Little Bear |
O’Connor, Jane | Lulu Witch Goes to School |
Parish, Peggy | Granny and the Desperadoes |
Parish, Peggy | No More Monsters for Me! |
Parish, Peggy | Too Many Rabbits |
Peppe, Rodney | House That Jack Built, The |
Perkins, Al | Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb |
Platt, Kin | Big Max |
Proger, Annabelle | Surprise Party, The |
Rey, Margaret | Curious George and the Ice Cream |
Robins, Joan | Addie’s Bad Day |
Rocklin, Joanne | Jake and the Copycats |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge and the Best Day of All |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge and the Careful Cousin |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge and the Forever Sea |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge and the Wild Wind |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge Get the Cold Shivers |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge in the Family Trees |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge in the Green Time |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge Take the Big Test |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge Under the Yellow Moon |
Rylant, Cynthia | Henry and Mudge: The First Book |
Rylant, Cynthia | Magic Fish, The |
Rylant, Cynthia | Mr. Putter and Tabby |
Rylant, Cynthia | Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane |
Rylant, Cynthia | Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears |
Rylant, Cynthia | Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea |
Rylant, Cynthia | Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog |
Rylant, Cynthia | Poppleton |
Rylant, Cynthia | Poppleton and Friends |
Rylant, Cynthia | Poppleton Everyday |
Rylant, Cynthia | Poppleton Forever |
Rylant, Cynthia | Poppleton in Spring |
Schwartz, Alvin | Ghosts! |
Schwartz, Alvin | In a Dark, Dark Room |
Selsam, Millicent | Egg to Chick |
Selsam, Millicent | How Kittens Grow |
Sendak, Maurice | Let’s Be Enemies |
Sendak, Maurice | Where the Wild Things Are |
Seuling, Barbara | Teeny Tiny Woman, The |
Seuss, Dr. | Cat in the Hat |
Seuss, Dr. | Great Day for Up |
Seuss, Dr. | Green Eggs and Ham |
Seuss, Dr. | Hop on Pop |
Seuss, Dr. | I Can Read With My Eyes Shut |
Stadler, John | Adventures of Snail at School |
Thaler, Mike | Pack 109 |
Thaler, Mike | There’s a Hippopotomus Under My Bed |
Wallner, John | City Mouse- Country Mouse |
Walsh, Rita | Worst Show-and-Tell Ever, The |
Wiseman, Bernard | Morris and Boris at the Circus |
Wiseman, Bernard | Morris Goes to School |
Zion, Gene | Harry and the Lady Next Door |
DRA Level 16
DRA2 Level 16
Expectations for End of Year First Grade / Incoming Second Grade
Author | Title |
Aesop | Fox and the Crow, The |
Aesop | Town Mouse and Country Mouse, The |
Alexander, Martha | We’re in Big Trouble, Black Board Bear |
Allen, Pamela | Bertie the Bear |
Barton, Byron | Airport |
Bennett, Jill | Teeny Tiny |
Berenstain, Stan & Jan | Bike Lesson |
Blocksma, Mary | Yoo Hoo Moon! |
Bonsall, Crosby | Who’s Afraid of the Dark? |
Brenner, Barbara | Good News |
Brown, Marc | Spooky Riddles |
Brown, Marcia | Three Billy Goats Gruff, The |
Brownrigg, Sheri | All Tutus Should Be Pink |
Carle, Eric | Very Busy Spider, The |
Cohen, Miriam | Jim Meets the Thing |
Cohen, Miriam | Jim’s Dog Muffins |
Cohen, Miriam | Liar, Liar Pants on Fire |
Cohen, Miriam | Lost in the Museaum |
Cohen, Miriam | No Good in Art |
Cohen, Miriam | So What? |
Cohen, Miriam | When Will I Read? |
Cole, Joanna | This Is the Place for Me |
Cook, Bernadine | Little Fish That Got Away |
Eastman, Philip D. | Are You My Mother? |
Eastman, Philip D. | Big Dog, Little Dog |
Erickson, Betty | Big Bad Rex |
Flack, Marjorie | Angus and the Cat |
Fox, Mem | Hattie and the Fox |
Galdone, Paul | Henny Penny |
Galdone, Paul | Little Tuppen |
Hennessy, Brendan G. | Dinosaur Who Lived in My Backyard, The |
Hill, Eric | Spot’s Birthday Party |
Hiris, Monica | Friendly Crocodile, The |
Hoff, Syd | Albert the Albatross |
Hoff, Syd | Barney’s Horse |
Hoff, Syd | Grizzwold |
Hoff, Syd | Lighthouse Children, The |
Hoff, Syd | Mrs. Brice’s Mice |
Hoff, Syd | Stanley |
Hooks, William H. | Gruff Brothers, The |
Hooks, William H. | Where’s Lulu? |
Hunia, Fran | Gingerbread Man |
Hunia, Fran | Little Red Hen |
Hurd, Edith Thacher | Come and Have Fun |
Hutchins, Pat | Dogs |
Hutchins, Pat | Goodnight, Owl! |
Hutchins, Pat | Happy Birthday, Sam |
Hutchins, Pat | My Best Friend |
Hutchins, Pat | Tidy Titch |
Jonas, Ann | Quilt, The |
Jonas, Ann | Reflections |
Jonas, Ann | Trek, The |
Keller, Holly | Geraldine’s Big Snow |
Kent, Jack | Fat Cat |
Kline, Suzy | Don’t Touch |
Kovalski, Mary Ann | Wheels on the Bus |
Kraus, Robert | Leo the Late Bloomer |
Krensky, Stephen | We Just Moved! |
Kuskin, Karla | Just Like Everyone Else |
Kwitz, Mary Deball | Little Chick’s Friend Duckling |
Lewis, Rob | Hide-and-Seek with Grandpa |
Lobel, Arnold | Small Pig |
Mayer, Mercer | Just a Mess |
Mayer, Mercer | Just Grandma and Me |
Mayer, Mercer | There’s a Nightmare in My Closet |
McLeod, Emilie | Bear’s Bicycle, The |
McPhail, David | Fix It |
Minarik, Else H. | Father Bear Comes Home |
Nodset, Joan | Go Away Dog |
Ormerod, Jan | Story of Chicken Licken |
Pilkey, Dav | Dragon Gets By |
Pilkey, Dav | Dragon’s Fat Cat |
Pilkey, Dav | Dragon’s Halloween |
Pilkey, Dav | Dragon’s Merry Christmas |
Pilkey, Dav | Friend for Dragon, The |
Preller, James | Hiccups for Elephant |
Rice, Eve | Benny Bakes a Cake |
Rockwell, Anne | Apples and Pumpkins |
Rose, Rita | Gingerbread Man, The |
Rosen, Michael | We’re Going on a Bear Hunt |
Ryder, Joanne | Hello, First Grade |
Sadler, Marilyn | It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny |
Sendak, Maurice | Alligators All Around |
Wells, Rosemary | Noisy Nora |
Wood, Don & Audrey | Napping House, The |
Yukish, Joe | Nick Goes Fishing |
DRA Level 14
Use your conference information to help select good fit books for your child based on DRA testing scores.
DRA2 Level 14
Expectations for Mid-Year First Grade
Author | Title |
Aesop | Boy and the Lion, The |
Aliki | We Are Best Friends |
Barton, Byron | Building a House |
Berenstain, Stan & Jan | Old Hat, New Hat |
Brown, Margaret Wise | Goodnight, Moon |
Burningham, John | Rabbit, The |
Butler, Dorothy | My Brown Bear Barney |
Campbell, Rod | Misty’s Mischief |
Cohen, Miriam | It’s George! |
Cohne, Miriam | Bee My Valentine! |
Coulton, Mia | Robert Makes a Graph |
Gelman. Rita | Cats and Mice |
Gould, Carol | Drummers, The |
Gregorich, Barbara | Jace, Mace and the Big Race |
Hoban, Tana | Kiss for Little Bear, A |
Hoff, Syd | Captain Cat |
Hoff, Syd | Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp |
Hoff, Syd | Sammy the Seal |
Hunia, Fran | Enormous Turnip |
Hunia, Fran | Little Red Riding Hood |
Hunia, Fran | Three Little Pigs |
Hutchins, Pat | What Game Shall We Play? |
Hutchins, Pat | You’ll Soon Grow Into Them Titch |
Jonas, Ann | Two Bear Cubs |
Joyce, William | George Shrinks |
Kraus, Robert | Come Out and Play Little Mouse |
Kraus, Robert | Oliver |
Kraus, Robert | Where Are You Going, Little Mouse? |
Kraus, Robert | Whose Mouse Are You? |
Mayer, Mercer | If I Had an Alligator |
Mayer, Mercer | Just Me and My Babysitter |
Mayer, Mercer | Just Me and My Dad |
Mayer, Mercer | Just Me and My Puppy |
Robart, Rose & Kovalski, Maryann | Cake That Mack Ate, The |
Rockwell, Anne | Awful Mess, the |
Rockwell, Anne | Tool Box |
Sendak, Maurice | Seven Little Monsters |
Shilling, Tracy | Mr. McCready’s Cleaning Day |
Stadler, John | Ready, Set, Go |
Stewart, J. & Salem, Lynn | Giant’s Job, The |
Taylor, Judy | My Cat |
Urmston, Kathleen & Evans, Karen | Gifts for Dad |
Urmston, Kathleen & Evans, Karen | Planning Dinner |
Watanabe, Shigeo | How Do I Put It On? |
Ziefert, Harriet | Clean House for Mole and Mouse, A |
Ziefert, Harriet | No Ball Games Here |
DRA Level 12
Use your conference information and DRA2 Level to help guide your child to a good fit book.
DRA Level 12
Expectations for Mid-Year First Grade
Author | Title |
Aesop | Donkey in the Lion’s Skin, The |
Aesop | Goose That Laid the Golden Egg, The |
Ahlberg, Allan & Janet | Each Peach Pear Plum |
Anholt, Catherine & Laurence | All About You |
Barton, Byron | Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs |
Blocksma, Mary | Apple Tree Apple Tree |
Bonsall, Crosby | Day I Had to Play With My Sister, The |
Bonsall, Crosby | Mine’s the Best |
Brandenburg, Franz | I Wish I Was Sick Too |
Bunting, Eve & Sloan-Childers, E. | Rabbit’s Party |
Burningham, John | Snow, The |
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin | Biscuit |
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin | Biscuit Finds a Friend |
Charles, Donald | Calico Cat at School |
Charles, Donald | Calico Cat Meets a Bookworm |
Dorros, Arthur | Alligator Shoes |
Epstein, Elaine | Say It Sign It |
Frankford, Marilyn | Fun at the Amusement Park |
Frankford, Marilyn | Jungle Tiger Cat |
Geddes, Diana | Hockey Practice |
Gelman. Rita | More Spaghetti I Say |
Gelman. Rita | Why Can’t I Fly? |
Ginsburg, Mirra | Three Kittens |
Gregorich, Barbara | Elephant and Envelope |
Gregorich, Barbara | Nine Men Chase a Hen |
Gregorich, Barbara | Say Goodnight |
Gregorich, Barbara | Sue Likes Blue |
Harper, Leslie | Carla’s Breakfast |
Harper, Leslie | Carla’s Ribbons |
Hellen, Nancy | Bus Stop, The |
Herman, Gail | Teddy Bear for Sale |
Hill, Eric | Spot’s First Walk |
Hooks, William H. | How Do You Make a Bubble? |
Hunia, Fran | Hansel and Gretel |
Hutchins, Pat | Titch |
Jonas, Ann | When You Were a Baby |
Keller, Holly | Ten Sleepy Sheep |
Kline, Suzy | Shhhh! |
Kraus, Robert | Boris Bad Enough |
Krauss, Ruth | Carrot Seed, The |
Lewison, Wendy | Buzz Said the Bee |
Long, Erlene | Gone Fishing |
Maccarone, Grace | I Shop With My Daddy |
Maccarone, Grace | Monster Math School Time |
Mack, Stan | Ten Bears in My Bed |
Marzollo, Jean | City Sounds |
Marzollo, Jean | I’m a Catepillar |
McPhail, David | Great Race, The |
Oppenlander, Meredith | In the Hen House |
Reese, Bob | Critter Race |
Reid, Mary | How Have I Grown |
Rockwell, Anne | Boats |
Sadler, Marilyn | P.J. Funnybunny Camps Out |
Salem, Lynn & Stewart, J. | Just Enough |
Shaw, Nancy | Sheep in a Jeep |
Stadler, John | Snail Saves the Day |
Stadler, John | Three Cheers for Hippo |
Taylor, Judy | My Dog |
Urmston, Kathleen & Evans, Karen | How to Make a Card |
Urmston, Kathleen & Evans, Karen | Shopping at the Mall |
Van Laan, Nancy | Big Fat Worm, The |
Watson, Wendy | Lollipop |
West, Colin | Not Me, Said the Monkey |
Westcott, Nadine B. | Peanut Butter and Jelly |
Wiliiams, D.H. | Awful Waffles |
Ziefert, Harriet | Jason’s Bus Ride |
Ziefert, Harriet | Mike and Tony: Best Friends |
Ziefert, Harriet | New House for Mole and Mouse, A |
Ziefert, Harriet | Nicky Upstairs and Downstairs |
DRA Level 10
Use your conference information and DRA2 Level to help guide your child to a good fit book.
DRA Level 10
Author | Title |
Asch, Frank | Just Like Daddy |
Brown, Ruth | Dark, Dark Tale, A |
Calmenson, Stephanie | My Dog’s the Best! |
Campbell, Rod | Dear Zoo |
Campbell, Rod | Oh Dear |
Charles, Donald | Calico Cat at the Zoo |
Charles, Donald | Calico the Cat |
Cummings, Pat | Shoveling Snow |
Dijs, Carla | Are You My Mommy? |
Doyle, R.H. | Freddie’s Spaghetti |
Erickson, Betty | Play Ball, Sherman |
Erickson, Betty | Use Your Beak! |
Evans, Karen & Urmston, Kathleen | Sammy Gets a Ride |
Frankford, Marilyn | When It Rains |
Gave, Marc | Monkey See, Monkey Do |
Gerstein, Mordicai | Roll Over |
Gerstein, Mordicai | William, Where Are You? |
Ginsburg, Mirra | Across the Stream |
Gould, Carol | My Native American School |
Gould, Carol | Nana’s Orchard |
Gregorich, Barbara | Beep, Beep |
Gregorich, Barbara | Jog, Frog, Jog |
Gregorich, Barbara | My Friend Goes Left |
Grey, Judith | Yummy, Yummy |
Henkes, Kevin | SHHH |
Hoban, Julia | Amy Loves the Snow |
Hoban, Julia | Amy Loves the Sun |
Hoban, Julia | Amy Loves the Wind |
Hoff, Syd | Who Will Be My Friends? |
Hunia, Fran | Billy Goats Gruff |
Hunia, Fran | Sly Fox and Red Hen |
Hurd, Edith Thacher | Johnny Lion’s Rubber Boots |
Hutchins, Pat | Rosie’s Walk |
Joyce, William | Friendly Snowman |
Kraus, Robert | Herman the Helper Lends a Hand |
Krauss, Ruth | Is This You? |
Lerner, Sharon | Big Bird’s Copycat Day |
Lloyd, David | Grandma and the Pirate |
Maccarone, Grace | Itchy, Itchy Chicken Pox |
Maccarone, Grace | Pizza Party! |
Maccarone, Grace | Soccer Game! |
Maccarone, Grace | What is That? Said the Cat |
Maris, Ron | Are You There Bear? |
Maris, Ron | Is Anyone Home? |
McPhail, David | Bug, a Bear, and a Boy, A |
Morris, Ann | Bread, Bread, Bread |
Moskowitz, Ellen | Bandages |
O’Connor, C.M. | Jackie’s New Friend |
O’Connor, Jane | Teeny Tiny Woman, The |
Phillips, Joan | Tiger Is a Scaredy Cat |
Poulet, Virginia | Blue Bug Goes to the Library |
Rockwell, Anne | Cars |
Rockwell, Harlow | My Kitchen |
Salem, Lynn & Stewart, J. | Birthday in the Woods, A |
Salem, Lynn & Stewart, J. | Notes From Mom |
Salem, Lynn & Stewart, J. | Staying With Grandma Norma |
Salem, Lynn & Stewart, J. | What a School |
Stewart, J. & Salem, Lynn | No Luck |
Stewart, J. & Salem, Lynn | Notes to Dad |
Stradler, John | Hooray for Snail |
Urmston, Kathleen & Evans, Karen | Lunch |
Urmston, Kathleen & Evans, Karen | Our Garage |
Urmston, Kathleen & Evans, Karen | Sammy’s Moving |
Urmston, Kathleen & Evans, Karen | Thanksgiving |
Ward, Cindy | Cookie’s Week |
Watanabe, Shigeo | I’m King of the Castle |
Watanabe, Shigeo | Where’s My Daddy? |
West, Colin | Have You Seen the Crocodile? |
West, Colin | Pardon? Said the Giraffe |
Wheeler, Cindy | Marmalade’s Nap |
Wheeler, Cindy | Marmalade’s Snowy Day |
Wheeler, Cindy | Rose |
Yukish, Joe | New Gym Shoes |
Ziefert, Harriet | Dozen Dogs, A |
Ziefert, Harriet | Harry Takes a Bath |
Ziefert, Harriet | Here Comes a Bus |
Ziefert, Harriet | Thank You, Nicky! |