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	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.

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.