The University of Iowa

Comprehension - Grade 1 Students

Connect prior knowledge to information in the text (NA)

  • Use prior knowledge of a topic to clarify understanding

Monitor comprehension while reading (RL.1.7; RI.1.7)

  • Reread when the text does not make sense

Ask and answer questions about key details in a text (RL.1.1; RI.1.1)

  • Answer “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” and “how” questions after listening to or reading one or more paragraphs
  • Ask questions about details in a text

Recognize and use the organizational patterns/text structures to connect ideas across the text (RL.1.2; RI.1.2)

  • Retell a story or chronological text in the correct sequence
  • Retell or summarize texts in ways that maintain meaning1

Identify elements of literary and informational texts (RL.1.3; RI.1.3)

  • Describe the main character(s) and the reason(s) for each character’s actions, behavior, or feelings
  • Describe the main events, problem, and resolution of a literary text
  • Evaluate details to determine what is most important

Make inferences while reading text (NA)

  • Create mental images to deepen understanding
  • Draw conclusions about information or stories read
  • Use specific textual evidence to support an appropriate response

English learner and bilingual footnotes

Teachers should evaluate the accuracy of the content in the EL students’ retell or summarization rather than the grammatical or spelling accuracy of the language used.