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I am so excited to be a part of the St. Joseph School community as a first grade teacher! I was born and raised in the Chicagoland area and attended National-Louis University where I received my degree in education with a concentration in psychology. I am also a certified Orton-Gillingham tutor and teacher, a multi-sensory approach that is very explicit in teaching reading to beginning readers.

I have spent the last 25 years teaching at a Catholic school- the last 18 years in first grade! I fell in love with teaching at a Catholic school because of the loving family atmosphere it provided. I enjoy inspiring children to learn and strive for their goals. I am committed to ensuring each child feels successful, capable, and celebrated while they are in my class. I love and enjoy learning, and I want to share, with my students, this passion and show how fun and exciting learning truly is!

When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two sons. I love to read and spend time outdoors.

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Week at a Glance

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To read words with vowel-consonant-e syllable
To understand long vowel sounds
To understand the difference between narrative fiction and informational books
To read and spell trick words: none, nothing

MATH

To partition shapes into two or four equal shares and identify how many parts there are in the whole
To partition shapes into two equal parts
To partition shapes into four equal parts
To look at attributes to identify cubes and rectangular prisms
To look at attributes to identify cones and cylinders

SCIENCE

To make observations to construct an explanation of why camouflage is helpful to animals. In the activity, Moth Hide and Seek, students test their ability to spot camouflage moths, and then design a camouflage pattern for a moth of their own and hide it in the classroom!

RELIGION

To explain that God wants all people to be part of his Church
To describe how the Holy Spirit is with us
To explain that the Holy Spirit gave the Apostles courage
To define parish and Pentecost

Week at a Glance

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To read words with vowel-consonant-e syllable
To understand long vowel sounds
To understand the difference between narrative fiction and informational books
To read and spell trick words: friend, other, another

MATH

To use defining attributes to identify and describe squares and rectangles
To use defining attributes to identify and describe trapezoids and triangles
To use defining attributes to identify and describe circles
To compare two-dimensional shapes

SCIENCE

To make observations to construct an explanation of why camouflage is helpful to animals. In the activity, Moth Hide and Seek, students test their ability to spot camouflage moths, and then design a camouflage pattern for a moth of their own and hide it in the classroom!

RELIGION

To name ways to share God’s love with others
To identify holy water as the primary symbol of Baptism
To tell the story of how Saint Peter called others to follow Jesus
To define Baptism, godparent, holy water, and Original Sin

Week at a Glance

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To blend and read words with consonant blends and digraph blends
To blend and read words with up to five sounds
To add suffix -s to words with five sounds
To read words with vowel team sounds: oa, oe, ow, ou, oo, ue, ew, au, aw
To understand the concept of a closed syllable and an open syllable
To understand the difference between narrative fiction and informational books
To read and spell trick words: how, now, down
To generate and answer questions about Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea
To identify the main topic and retell key details of sections of Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea

MATH Unit test on Wednesday

To relate addition and subtraction facts to solve problems
To make and read a tally chart
To make a table to solve problems

SCIENCE

To identify ways to care for the Earth (reduce, reuse, recycle)
To understand that natural resources (water, air, plants) are important
To recognize how littering affects the environment

RELIGION

To read about Saint Therese of Lisieux
To tell that Jesus wants us to love one another as he loves us
To explain that the sacraments are signs of Jesus’ love for us
To describe how Jesus welcomed and blessed children
To define priest, sacrament, Sacraments at the Service of Initiation, Sacraments of Healing

Week at a Glance

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To blend and read words with consonant blends and digraph blends
To blend and read words with up to five sounds
To add suffix -s to words with five sounds
To read words with vowel team sounds: oa, oe, ow, ou, oo, ue, ew, au, aw
To understand the concept of a closed syllable and an open syllable
To understand the difference between narrative fiction and informational books
To read and spell trick words: any, many

MATH

To add tens and ones to find the sum with regrouping
To subtract tens to find the difference
To use a number line to count back by tens to subtract

SCIENCE

To carry out an investigation to determine the relationship between the shape of different bird beaks and the food each bird eats. In the activity, Find the Best Beak, students experiment with long pointy beaks that are great for picking up seeds and wide flat beaks that are good for scooping. They discover that different beaks are best for different kinds of food.

RELIGION

To tell the Easter story according to Luke
To explain that Easter is a time to celebrate how Jesus saves us all
To tell that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead
To define Easter

Monday, March 16

Dear Parents, I hope you will consider coming to the Stay & Chat on Monday morning to learn more about what's in store for our school with the new St. Joseph Parish Center. This new school space will impact every St. Joe's student, and I'm excited for what's in store for your children.

Week at a Glance

Monday is our field trip! Please have your child wear their gym clothes.

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To blend and read words with consonant blends and digraph blends
To blend and read words with up to four sounds
To add suffix -s to words with four sounds
To read words with vowel team sounds: ai, ay, ee, ea, ey, oi, oy
To understand the concept of a closed syllable and an open syllable
To understand the difference between narrative fiction and informational books
To read and spell trick words: say, says
To use the illustrations and details in Me…Jane to describe how Jane made discoveries about animals
To write a topic sentence for an informative paragraph about Jane Goodall’s discoveries about animals in the text

MATH Unit test on Wednesday

To add tens within 100
To count on by tens and ones to find sums within 100
To add tens and ones to find sums within 100

SCIENCE

To carry out an investigation to determine the relationship between the shape of different bird beaks and the food each bird eats. In the activity, Find the Best Beak, students experiment with long pointy beaks that are great for picking up seeds and wide flat beaks that are good for scooping. They discover that different beaks are best for different kinds of food.

RELIGION

To explain that God wants all people to be part of his Church
To describe how the Holy Spirit is with us
To explain that the Holy Spirit gave the apostles courage
To define parish, Pentecost

Week at a Glance

Join us on Wednesday, March 4 from 6:00-7:00 for the Art Showcase!

ELA Unit 8 test on Wednesday

To read with accuracy and prosody
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To blend and read words with consonant blends and digraph blends
To blend and read words with up to four sounds
To add suffix -s to words with four sounds
To read words with R-controlled vowel sounds: ar, or, er, ir, ur
To understand the concept of a closed syllable and an open syllable
To signal unknown words in Me…. Jane
To select the best topic statement for an informative paragraph
To identify determiners in sentences
To identify the key details and main topic of sections of Me…Jane
To generate and write a topic statement for a partially complete paragraph
To use the illustrations and details in Me…Jane to describe how Jane made discoveries about animals
To write a topic sentence for an informative paragraph about Jane Goodall’s discoveries about animals in the text

MATH

To make a ten to subtract
To use related facts to add and subtract
To identify similarities in fact families

SCIENCE

To carry out an investigation to determine the relationship between the shape of different bird beaks and the food each bird eats. In the activity, Find the Best Beak, students experiment with long pointy beaks that are great for picking up seeds and wide flat beaks that are good for scooping. They discover that different beaks are best for different kinds of food.

RELIGION

To tell that the Church is found around the world
To explain the importance of being a good friend
To tell how Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be his followers
To define catholic, Church, and guardian angel

Week at a Glance

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To blend and read words with consonant blends and digraph blends
To blend and read words with up to four sounds
To add suffix -s to words with four sounds
To read and spell trick words: her, over, number
To read words with R-controlled vowel sounds: ar, or, er, ir, ur
To signal unknown words in Me…. Jane
To select the best topic statement for an informative paragraph
To identify determiners in sentences
To identify the key details and main topic of sections of Me…Jane
To generate and write a topic statement for a partially complete paragraph
To use the illustrations and details in Me…Jane to describe how Jane made discoveries about animals
To write a topic sentence for an informative paragraph about Jane Goodall’s discoveries about animals in the text

MATH

To relate doubles addition facts to subtraction facts
To write a number sentence to solve word problems
To make a ten to subtract

SCIENCE

To carry out an investigation to determine the relationship between the shape of different bird beaks and the food each bird eats. In the activity, Find the Best Beak, students experiment with long pointy beaks that are great for picking up seeds and wide flat beaks that are good for scooping. They discover that different beaks are best for different kinds of food.

RELIGION

To identify Lent as a time to do good things and to live like Jesus
To tell how Jesus helps us grow closer to God the Father

Week at a Glance

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To blend and read words with consonant blends and digraph blends
To blend and read words with up to four sounds
To add suffix -s to words with four sounds
To read and spell trick words: could, would, should
To read words with R-controlled vowel sounds: ar, or, er, ir, ur

MATH Unit 3 Test on Wednesday

To count back by 1, 2, or 3 to subtract
To use a number line to count back to subtract
To relate doubles addition facts to subtraction facts

SOCIAL STUDIES Freedom Tea on Friday 2/20 at 7:45 am

To learn about important African American leaders and heroes
To understand that Black History is an important of American history
To identify how African Americans have helped shape our country
To listen to and discuss stories about fairness, courage, and kindness
To recognize that everyone deserves respect and equal treatment

RELIGION

To identify Lent as a time to do good things and to live like Jesus
To tell how Jesus helps us grow closer to God the Father
To explain the significance of Ash Wednesday

Week at a Glance

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To segment and spell three- sound short vowel words
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To blend and read words with the glued sounds: ank, ink, onk, unk
To read and spell trick words: come, some
To identify the components of an informative paragraph
To analyze the characters’ actions using key details in Seven Blind Mice
To use end punctuation for sentences

MATH

To act it out to solve problems
To use counters and a ten-frame to make sums greater than 10

SCIENCE

In this Read-Along lesson, Juan Carlos visits his grandmother who has a backyard full of ducks. The lesson includes a short exercise where students get moving by acting like ducks. Students will watch videos and discover ways that animal parents help their offspring.

RELIGION

To explain that Jesus shows us the way to God
To explain the difference between wants and needs
To pray the Lord’s Prayer
To explain forgiveness
To define temptation, trespass

Week at a Glance

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To segment and spell three- sound short vowel words
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To blend and read words with the glued sounds: ank, ink, onk, unk
To read and spell trick words: put, two
To identify the components of an informative paragraph
To identify key details from the text to determine the lessons of Aesop’s Fables
To identify and use end punctuation for sentences
To generate and answer questions about Seven Blind Mice using key details from the text
To add details to an informative paragraph about the lesson of “The Hare and the Tortoise”
To retell Seven Blind Mice using key details from the text
To sequence the components of an informational paragraph about hares
To identify and use end punctuation for sentences

MATH

To use the doubles to add strategy to help find the sum
To use the near doubles to add strategy to help find the sum
To act it out to solve problems

SCIENCE

In this lesson, students gather evidence that animal offspring look like, but not exactly like, their parents. In the activity, Possible Puppies, students play a game that models how puppies look similar to their parents, but each puppy can vary in many ways.

RELIGION

To explain that Jesus shows us the way to God
To explain the difference between wants and needs
To pray the Lord’s Prayer
To explain forgiveness
To define temptation, trespass

Week at a Glance

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To segment and spell three- sound short vowel words
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To blend and read words with the glued sounds: ang, ing, ong, ung, ank, ink, onk, unk
To read and spell trick words: why, by, my, try
To explain the difference between narrative fiction and informational books
To identify the components of an informative paragraph
To analyze the main character’s actions using key details in “The Hare and the Tortoise”
To identify the components of an informative paragraph
To identify key details from the text to determine the lessons of Aesop’s Fables
To collaboratively write an informative paragraph about “The Ants and the Grasshopper” using evidence from the class charts
To identify and use end punctuation for sentences

MATH

To count on using pennies
To use a number line to help find the sum
To use the doubles to add strategy to help find the sum

SCIENCE

Students make observations of baby animals and their parents, gathering evidence that they look similar because they share many of the same traits. In the activity, Baby Bird Rescue, students help identify lost baby birds based on observations of their specific traits.

RELIGION

To tell that the Beatitudes are ways to live in the world
To tell that Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer
To pray the first half of the Lord’s Prayer
To explain that being kind to others is doing God’s will
To define Beatitudes, heaven, Kingdom of God, and prayer

Week at a Glance

ELA unit test on Wednesday

To read with accuracy and prosody
To segment and spell three- sound short vowel words
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To read and spell baseword and suffix with the suffix -s
To read and spell trick words: where, there, here
To explain the difference between narrative fiction and informational books
To identify the components of an informative paragraph
To analyze the main character’s actions using key details in “The Hare and the Tortoise”
To identify the components of an informative paragraph
To identify key details from the text to determine the lessons of Aesop’s Fables
To collaboratively write an informative paragraph about “The Ants and the Grasshopper” using evidence from the class charts
To identify and use end punctuation for sentences

MATH unit test on Wednesday

To make groups of hundreds, tens, and ones
To count numerals up to 120

SCIENCE

In this Read-Along lesson, Ryan’s camping trip with his dad includes a night of stargazing, and a mystery to solve. The lesson includes a short exercise where students imagine what they might see looking through a telescope. The activity Where Is North? that will help students learn the cardinal directions.

RELIGION

To demonstrate a way to show respect for Jesus’ name
To tell the story of Jesus’ birth
To identify Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the Holy Family
To define angel, Holy Family, Joseph, and Mary

Week at a Glance

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To segment and spell three- sound short vowel words
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To read and spell baseword and suffix with the suffix -s
To read and spell trick words: who, what, when
To explain the difference between narrative fiction and informational books
To identify the components of an informative paragraph
To analyze the main character’s actions using key details in “The Hare and the Tortoise”
To identify the components of an informative paragraph
To identify key details from the text to determine the lessons of Aesop’s Fables
To collaboratively write an informative paragraph about “The Ants and the Grasshopper” using evidence from the class charts
To identify and use end punctuation for sentences

MATH

To compare two two-digit numbers
To compare two two-digit numbers using symbols
To make groups of hundreds, tens, and ones
To count numerals up to 120

SOCIAL STUDIES

To recognize that people celebrate different holidays around the world
To compare and contrast traditions from multiple cultures.
To identify key symbols, foods, and customs related to each holiday.
To show respect for cultures and traditions that are different from their own.

RELIGION

To identify Jesus as the Messiah
To describe how during Advent we prepare ourselves to welcome Jesus into our hearts on Christmas
To define Advent, Light of the World, and Messiah

Week at a Glance

ELA

To read with accuracy and prosody
To segment and spell three- sound short vowel words
To write a complete sentence using capital letters and punctuation
To read and spell baseword and suffix with the suffix -s
To read and spell trick words: are, were
To review narrative story structure including setting, character, and main events
To explain the difference between narrative fiction and informational books
To generate and answer questions about “The Hare and the Tortoise” and “The Ants and the Grasshopper”
To categorize words related to the concept of features
To retell “The Hare and the Tortoise” using key details from the text
To identify the components of an informative paragraph

MATH

To identify numbers that are ten more and ten less than a given number
To use nickels to count by fives
To compare two two-digit numbers
To compare two two-digit numbers using symbols

SCIENCE

Students use a model to investigate why the stars are visible at night but disappear when the Sun comes out during the day. In the activity, Star Projector, students use paper cups to project stars onto a sky picture, and observe what happens to these stars when a flashlight acts as a model of the Sun.

RELIGION

To tell that Jesus was born in a stable
To explain that Advent is a time of waiting

Name: Carrie Johnson
Position: 1st Grade Teacher