Grade 1Englisheasy
Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension — reading worksheet for Grade 1.
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What Your Child Will Learn
- Identify and read simple, high-frequency words (e.g., 'the', 'is', 'and', 'cat', 'run') in short sentences
- Demonstrate comprehension by answering basic yes/no and who/what questions about simple stories or passages
- Recognize and sequence main events in a short narrative using picture clues and simple text
- Apply phonetic skills to decode simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words and sight words within context
How to Use This Worksheet
- Step 1: Preview the worksheet together. Point to the pictures and ask your child to describe what they see. This activates prior knowledge and builds excitement about the story.
- Step 2: Read the short passage or sentence aloud while your child listens and follows with their finger. Pause at simple sight words and let them read those words aloud.
- Step 3: Have your child read the passage independently, one sentence at a time. Offer support with difficult words by prompting them to sound out the first letter or identify picture clues.
- Step 4: Ask the comprehension questions aloud (even if they are written). For G1 students, verbal responses are often more natural than written ones. Accept pointing, one-word answers, or simple sentences.
- Step 5: Revisit the passage one more time, asking your child to find specific words ('Can you find the word 'cat'?') or to retell the story using the pictures as a guide.
Tips for Parents & Teachers
Read the passage aloud to your child first while they follow along, then have them read back familiar words. Many G1 students benefit from hearing fluent reading modeled before attempting independent reading. This builds confidence and helps them understand intonation.
Use the picture clues provided in the worksheet actively—point to them and ask 'What do you see?' before reading the text. G1 students rely heavily on visual supports to predict words and meanings, which scaffolds their reading success.
Watch for students who rush through to 'finish.' Slow down and ask them to point to each word as they read aloud. This prevents skipping words and helps build one-to-one word correspondence, a critical foundational skill at this level.
If a child struggles with a word, encourage them to look at the first sound and ask 'What sound does that letter make?' rather than simply providing the word. This builds phonetic decoding strategies they'll use for all future reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my child can't read most of the words on the worksheet?
This is completely normal for early G1 students. Focus on picture-based comprehension first—discuss what's happening in the images. Then read the text aloud and have your child repeat words after you. Work on 2-3 high-frequency sight words from the passage before moving to comprehension questions. Gradual exposure builds sight word recognition naturally.
How can I tell if my child understood what they read?
G1 comprehension is best assessed through simple, observable behaviors: Can they point to the correct picture when you ask a question? Can they say one word to answer ('yes', 'no', 'cat')? Can they act out something from the story? These are all signs of understanding. Don't expect complete sentence answers—brief, direct responses show comprehension at this level.
Should I correct every mistake my child makes while reading?
Not every mistake needs correction. If your child reads 'the cat' as 'a cat' but the meaning is clear, let it go—this is called miscue analysis and is developmentally appropriate. Do gently correct mistakes that significantly change meaning (like reading 'cat' as 'dog'). Praise efforts and progress rather than perfection to build confidence.
Why are there picture clues on this worksheet?
Pictures are essential supports for G1 readers who are still developing decoding skills. Visual clues help children predict words, understand context, and make meaning from text even when they can't read every word. Encourage your child to use pictures as a reading strategy—it's not 'cheating,' it's smart reading!
How often should my child complete reading comprehension worksheets like this?
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