Even though your child is still learning to read, it’s not too early to introduce these tougher words. Your child will hear the the teacher read and say these vocabulary words for first graders. They’re likely to pop up in your child’s books and educational TV programs. Even if your child cannot spell (or even read) these words yet, it’ll boost your child’s communication skills to hear these words and learn what they mean.
Print this list, courtesy of Hyde Park Central School District, and post it on your fridge or bulletin board. Try to use these words in context with your child because hearing long words used in regular life is one of the best ways to help kids learn new words. Read more about the benefits of using so-called $5 words in conversations with kids.
Vocabulary words for 1st graders
| annoy | ignore | prefer |
| attention | instead | problem |
| calm | investigate | protect |
| comfortable | invite | proud |
| consequences | important | question |
| curious | jealous | reminds |
| curve | leader | repeat |
| decide | list | report |
| directions | listen | rhyme |
| discover | lovely | respect |
| disappointed | measuring | searching |
| embarrassed | miserable | special |
| enormous | mumble | spotless |
| exhausted | negative | squirm |
| explore | nervous | stomped |
| fair | nibbled | suddenly |
| fascinating | note | suggestion |
| feast | notice | surprise |
| focus | observing | uncomfortable |
| frustrated | opposite | warning |
| gigantic | ordinary | wonder |
| grumpy | positive | worried |
| huge | precious | |
See the academic vocabulary lists for 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade, too.
Check out our lists of first grade snap words (high-frequency words and sight words that kids should learn to recognize in a snap).
