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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 24 years teaching at a Catholic school- the last 17 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 (ages 14 and 18). I love to read, spend time outdoors, and relax at the beach.

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Week at a Glance

ELA

To decode and encode vowel-consonant-e syllable in one- syllable words
To understand long vowel sounds
To distinguish between narrative fiction and informational books
To read with accuracy and prosody
Trick words: friend, other, another, none, nothing

To plan an informative paragraph
To know and use text features to locate more information in What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?
To write an informative paragraph that describes how two animals use the same feature differently
To categorize words related to mammal by defining their attributes

MATH

To compare two-dimensional shapes by their attributes
To use two- dimensional shapes to make a composite shape
To use logical reasoning to solve problems

SCIENCE

To understand what Earth Day is and why it's celebrated, including its significance in promoting environmental awareness and protecting the planet

RELIGION

To identify Easter as the time when we celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection
To explain that Jesus is in heaven with his Father
To explain that one day we will share in Jesus’ new life
To relate Sunday to the Resurrection

Week at a Glance

ELA

To decode and encode vowel-consonant-e syllable in one- syllable words
To understand long vowel sounds
To distinguish between narrative fiction and informational books
To read with accuracy and prosody

To plan an informative paragraph
To know and use text features to locate more information in What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?
To write an informative paragraph that describes how two animals use the same feature differently

MATH

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

SCIENCE

In this Read-Along lesson, Gabrielle sets sail with her aunt—the captain of a tugboat—and discovers how the sights and sounds on the bay can help boats find their way. The lesson includes a short exercise where students get moving by pretending to be boats.

RELIGION

To understand the basic story and importance of Holy Week, including Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, and recognize that it is a special time to remember Jesus' love and sacrifice for us.

Week at a Glance

ELA

To segment and blend up to 5 sounds
To be introduced to vowel team sounds: au, aw

To read with accuracy and prosody
Trick words: about, our
To add suffix -s to words with 5 sounds
To add suffixes -ed, -ing added to unchanging base words with closed syllables
To generate and answer questions about What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?
To identify the main topic and retell key details of sections of What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?
To plan an informative paragraph
To categorize words related to the word mammal
To categorize picture of animals as either mammal or not a mammal
To know and use text features to locate more information in What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?
To write an informative paragraph that describes how two animals use the same feature differently

MATH Chapter test on Thursday

To add tens and ones to find the sum with regrouping

SCIENCE

In this Read-Along lesson, Gabrielle sets sail with her aunt—the captain of a tugboat—and discovers how the sights and sounds on the bay can help boats find their way. The lesson includes a short exercise where students get moving by pretending to be boats.

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 segment and blend up to 5 sounds
To be introduced to vowel team sounds: au, aw

To read with accuracy and prosody
Trick words: out, about, our
To add suffix -s to words with 5 sounds
To add suffixes -ed, -ing added to unchanging base words with closed syllables
To distinguish between narrative fiction and informational books
To select two details to include in an informative paragraph about a feature of a sea horse
To define words by category and by one or more key attributes, using a concept map about a sea horse
To examine similes in Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea and analyze how they reveal deeper meaning in the text
To use phonetic spelling in their Focusing Question Task
To write an informative paragraph that includes two or more details about one of a sea horses’s unique features

MATH

To add tens and ones to find sums within 100
To guess, check, and revise to solve problems
To add tens and ones to find the sum with regrouping

SCIENCE

In this Read-Along lesson, Gabrielle sets sail with her aunt—the captain of a tugboat—and discovers how the sights and sounds on the bay can help boats find their way. The lesson includes a short exercise where students get moving by pretending to be boats.

RELIGION

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 segment and blend up to 5 sounds
To be introduced to vowel team sounds: ou, oo, ue, ew, au, aw

To read with accuracy and prosody
Trick words: how, now, down, out, about, our
To add suffix -s to words with 5 sounds
To distinguish between narrative fiction and informational books
To define words by category and one key attribute, using sea horse
To identify and use text features, such as an index, text box, and labels, to locate key information in Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea
To select two details to include in an informative paragraph about a feature of a sea horse
To define words by category and by one or more key attributes, using a concept map about a sea horse

MATH

To use a number line to count back by tens to subtract

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

SCIENCE

In this Read-Along lesson, Gabrielle sets sail with her aunt—the captain of a tugboat—and discovers how the sights and sounds on the bay can help boats find their way. The lesson includes a short exercise where students get moving by pretending to be boats.

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 segment and blend up to 5 sounds
To be introduced to vowel team sounds: oa, oe, ow, ou, oo, ue, ew, au, aw

To read with accuracy and prosody
Trick words: any, many, how, now, down, out, about, our
To add suffix -s to words with 5 sounds
To distinguish between narrative fiction and informational books
To identify the main topic and retell key details of sections of Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea
To describe the purpose of an informative paragraph
To define words by category and one key attribute, using sea horse

MATH Chapter 4 test on Wednesday

To subtract to find missing addends
To add tens within 100
To subtract tens to find the difference

SCIENCE

In this lesson, students practice using light to communicate information. In the activity, Secret Signals, students work in pairs to build a device that solves the problem of communicating over a distance. They send secret messages to one another using light and colored markers.

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 distinguish between a closed syllable and an open syllable
To be introduced to vowel team sounds: oi, oy
To read with accuracy and prosody
Trick words: see, between, each

To distinguish between narrative fiction and informational books
To write questions on sticky notes
To identify the main topic and retell key details of sections of Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea
To describe the purpose of an informative paragraph
To define words by category and one key attribute, using sea horse

MATH

To subtract using the make 10 to subtract strategy
To identify similarities in related addition and subtraction sentences
To identify similarities in fact families
To subtract to find missing addends

SCIENCE

In this lesson, students practice using light to communicate information. In the activity, Secret Signals, students work in pairs to build a device that solves the problem of communicating over a distance. They send secret messages to one another using light and colored markers.

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 understand the concept of a closed-syllable word
To distinguish between a closed syllable and an open syllable
To be introduced to vowel team sounds: ai, ay, ee, ea, ey, oi, oy

To read with accuracy and prosody
Trick words: say, says, see, between, each
To generate and answer questions about Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea
To write questions on sticky notes
To identify the main topic and retell key details of sections of Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea
To describe the purpose of an informative paragraph
To define words by category and one key attribute, using sea horse

MATH

To use a number line to subtract
To use doubles to subtract
To write a number sentence to solve problems
To subtract using the make 10 to subtract strategy

SCIENCE

In this lesson, students practice using light to communicate information. In the activity, Secret Signals, students work in pairs to build a device that solves the problem of communicating over a distance. They send secret messages to one another using light and colored markers.

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 distinguish between consonant blends and digraph blends
To blend and read words with up to four sounds
To segment and spell words with up to four sounds
To add suffix -s to words with four sounds
To introduce R-controlled vowel sounds: ar, or, er, ir, ur
To read with accuracy and prosody
Trick words: would, could, should, her, over, number
To describe the connection between information in the back matter to information in the story in Me….Jane
To revise a topic statement in an informative paragraph
To generate and answer questions about Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea
To write questions on sticky notes
To identify the main topic and retell key details of sections of Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea
To describe the purpose of informative paragraph
To define words by category and one key attribute, using sea horse

MATH Chapter test on Thursday

To add three numbers
To count back 1, 2, or 3
To use a number line to subtract

SCIENCE

To consider materials from the perspective of how much light they let through. In the activity, Paper Stained Glass, they use these materials to create a work of art.

RELIGION

To identify disciples as Jesus’ friends who followed him and tried to live like him
To tell the story of Jesus’ Resurrection
To explain how Jesus is always with us
To define Christ, disciple, and Resurrection

Week at a Glance

ELA

To distinguish between consonant blends and digraph blends
To blend and read words with up to four sounds
To segment and spell words with up to four sounds
To add suffix -s to words with four sounds
To introduce R-controlled vowel sounds: ar, or, er, ir, ur
To read with accuracy and prosody
Trick words: would, could, should, her, over, number
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 identify related addition facts
To add three numbers
To add in any order

SCIENCE

To consider materials from the perspective of how much light they let through. In the activity, Paper Stained Glass, they use these materials to create a work of art.

RELIGION

To identify disciples as Jesus’ friends who followed him and tried to live like him
To tell the story of Jesus’ Resurrection
To explain how Jesus is always with us
To define CHrist, disciple, and Resurrection

Week at a Glance

ELA

To add a suffix to the glued sounds of nk and ng
To blend and read words with nk and ng
To segment and spell words with nk and ng
To read with accuracy and prosody
To identify and use end punctuation for sentences
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 act it out to solve problems
To use counters and a ten-frame to make sums greater than 10
To identify related addition facts
To add three numbers

SCIENCE

To consider materials from the perspective of how much light they let through. In the activity, Paper Stained Glass, they use these materials to create a work of art.

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 and trespass

Week at a Glance

ELA

To add a suffix to the glued sounds of nk and ng
To blend and read words with nk and ng
To segment and spell words with nk and ng
To read with accuracy and prosody
To identify and use end punctuation for sentences
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 use near doubles to add
To determine odd and even numbers

SCIENCE

In this Read-Along lesson, Lin explores the sounds made by different kinds of instruments, and discovers what happens when vibrations start—and when they stop. The lesson includes a short exercise where students experiment with a piece of paper to make the connection between vibrations and sound.

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

Reminder: Food Pantry Drive Collection on Wednesday, Jan 15.

ELA

To introduce glued sounds: ank, ink, onk, unk
To blend and read words with nk
To segment and spell words with nk
To read with accuracy and prosody
To identify and use end punctuation for sentences
To analyze the character’s actions using key details in Seven Blind Mice
To use end punctuation for sentences
To write sentences and use the correct end punctuation
To identify the lesson of Seven Blind Mice
To orally rehearse an informative paragraph using a graphic organizer
To signal unknown words in Me…. Jane
To select the best topic statement for an informative paragraph
To identify determiners in sentences

MATH

To use doubles to add
To use near doubles to add

SCIENCE

To investigate vibrations as a source of sound effects for movies. In the activity, Be a Sound Effects Artist, students use their hands and feet to create a "rainstorm," and then use rulers to create a “boing” sound for a cartoon bouncy ball.

RELIGION

To demonstrate sharing a sign of peace
To tell that Jesus brings us God the Father’s love
To explain that the Holy Spirit brings us God the Father’s gift of peace
To define Holy Spirit and Trinity

Week at a Glance

ELA

To introduce glued sounds: ang, ing, ong, ung, ank, ink, onk, unk
To blend and read words with ng or nk
To segment and spell words with ng or nk
To read with accuracy and prosody
To identify and use end punctuation for sentences
To generate and answer questions about Seven Blind Mice using key details from the text
To retell Seven Blind Mice using key details from the text
To sequence the components of an informational paragraph about hares

MATH

To count on 1, 2, or 3
To count on using pennies
To use a number line to add
To use doubles to add

SCIENCE

To investigate vibrations as a source of sound effects for movies. In the activity, Be a Sound Effects Artist, students use their hands and feet to create a "rainstorm," and then use rulers to create a “boing” sound for a cartoon bouncy ball.

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

Reminders: Pajama Day on Wednesday, Early dismissal on Friday

ELA Unit 6 assessment on Thursday

To apply the concept of base word and suffix ~s
To apply the concept of plurals
To explain the difference between narrative fiction and informational books
To identify key details from the text to determine the lessons of Aesop’s Fables
To collaboratively write an informative paragraph about the “The Ants and the Grasshopper” using evidence from class charts
To identify and use end punctuation for sentences

MATH Chapter 5 assessment on Thursday

To practice counting to 120
To read and write numbers to 120

SOCIAL STUDIES

To learn about Christmas traditions around the world

RELIGION

To explain that Advent is a time to get ready to celebrate Jesus’ birth
To describe how during Advent we prepare ourselves to welcome Jesus into our hearts on Christmas
To define Advent, celebrate, and Light of the World