noun

• 1North American The first year of formal education.

  ‘we had been friends since first grade’

  More example sentences

  • ‘We must provide services to children prior to entering kindergarten or first grade.’
  • ‘Here is an excerpt from a first grade reading book.’
  • ‘He did first grade twice, my boy.’
  • ‘I knew I was different when I was in first grade.’
  • ‘Virginia and Georgia had gotten along just fine until they reached the first grade.’
  • ‘Her two older children are in sixth grade and first grade at the school.’
  • ‘They enrolled their child for first grade in August.’
  • ‘Because Scout was in the first grade, she got out of school thirty minutes earlier than her brother.’
  • ‘In first grade she sat next to me.’
  • ‘By the middle of first grade, I knew what I did and didn't like.’
  • ‘I actually flunked first grade twice because I didn't want to be at the graduation without my parents.’

  1. 1.1The set of pupils grouped together for teaching in the first year of formal education.
     ‘every kid in the first grade will receive a card’
     More example sentences

     • ‘My mum has my first grade class picture hanging in the hall.’
     • ‘A first grade teacher had a small number of children gathered around a table for a reading group.’
     • ‘My first grade teacher, Mrs. Williams, had each of us decorate our own little brown bag the week before the Big Day.’
     • ‘She taught first grade for the next 35 years.’
     • ‘One approach I enjoy with my first grade is to incorporate literature into the art unit.’
     • ‘I remember my first grade teacher clearly.’
     • ‘On March 10th the first grade went to the Museum of Science and Industry!’
     • ‘Last week the entire First Grade went to the Greensboro Children's Museum.’
     • ‘Most of the first grade had failed in recognizing the alphabet the year before.’
     • ‘First grade had a great time on their field trip to Ridge Ferry Park.’