Academic vocabulary words for 1st graders

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.

1st grade vocabulary words

annoy
attention
calm
comfortable
consequences
curious
curve
decide
directions
discover
disappointed
embarrassed
enormous
exhausted
explore
fair
fascinating

feast
focus
frustrated
gigantic
grumpy
huge
ignore
instead
investigate
invite
important
jealous
leader
list
listen
lovely
measuring

miserable
mumble
negative
nervous
nibbled
note
notice
observing
ordinary
positive
precious
prefer
problem
protect
proud
question
reminds

repeat
report
rhyme
respect
searching
special
spotless
squirm
stomped
suddenly
suggestion
surprise
uncomfortable
warning
worried

See the academic vocabulary lists for 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade, too.

Want more help with reading skills? Check out our list of 1st grade Dolch sight words and give your child practice with our 20 1st grade sight words worksheets.