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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 23 years teaching at a Catholic school- the last 16 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 13 and 17). I love to read, spend time outdoors, and relax at the beach.

 

Posts

Week at a Glance

ELA

  • To encode and decode the syllable pattern: vowel- consonant- e
  • To recognize long vowel sounds
  • To differentiate between narrative fiction and informational books
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • To analyze how illustrations help make the author’s point in Never Smile at a Monkey
  • To plan an informative paragraph stating the author’s point with supporting reasons
  • To distinguish shades of meaning of the word touch by using sentence-level context
  • To complete a sentence frame using a word from the text
  • To determine the essential meaning of Never Smile at a Monkey

MATH Chapter 4 test on Tuesday

  • To count and write numbers 11 to 19
  • To count groups of 10
  • To use dimes to count by tens
  • To make groups of ten and some more

SCIENCE

  • To learn how seaweed can help our Earth
  • To tell ways to help our Earth

RELIGION

  • To pray a group prayer of praise
  • To tell the story of how God created the world
  • To explain that our world is beautiful because God made it
  • To describe how we all can do our part to care for God’s creation
  • To define neighbor

Week at a Glance

ELA

  • To learn the next syllable pattern: vowel- consonant- e
  • To recognize long vowel sounds
  • To differentiate between narrative fiction and informational books
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • To locate and name text features and explain how they help make the author’s point 
  • To write a conclusion for an informational paragraph
  • To add a conclusion to an informational paragraph about electric caterpillars
  • To expand sentences using prepositions and prepositional phrases
  • To complete a sentence frame with a prepositional phrase
  • To analyze how illustrations help make the author’s point in Never Smile at a Monkey
  • To plan an informative paragraph stating the author’s point with supporting reasons
  • To distinguish shades of meaning of the word touch by using sentence-level context
  • To complete a sentence frame using a word from the text
  • To determine the essential meaning of Never Smile at a Monkey

MATH 

  • To subtract using the make 10 to subtract strategy
  • To use related facts to add and subtract
  • To find the missing addend

SOCIAL STUDIES

  • To distinguish between needs as things we must have to live and wants as things it would be nice to have
  • To identify food, clothing, and shelter as needs each family has
  • To understand that people use money to buy goods and services in markets
  • To explore the choices people make when buying needs and wants
  • To describe jobs that people do to earn money to meet their needs and wants
  • To identify items a family might need and want while away from home

RELIGION

  • To demonstrate understanding that the Church is God’s family
  • To explain that followers of Christ are called Christians
  • To define Christian and Sign of Peace

Week at a Glance

ELA

  • To segment and blend up to 5 sounds
  • To add suffix -s to words with 5 sounds
  • To add suffixes -ed, -ing to unchanging base words with closed syllables
  • To introduce vowel teams: oa, oe, ow, ou, oo, ue, ew, au, aw
  • To differentiate between narrative fiction and informational books
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • To generate and answer questions about Never Smile at a Monkey
  • To write questions on sticky notes
  • To find attributes in a text that differentiate between different animals in the same category
  • To identify the author’s point and reasons given to support that point in sections of Never Smile at a Monkey
  • To identify the author’s point in writing and list the reasons 
  • To identify the reasons it is important to add a conclusion to an informative paragraph
  • To define words about the puffer fish using three different attributes
  • To locate and name text features and explain how they help make the author’s point 

MATH 

  • To use a number line to count back to subtract
  • To relate doubles addition facts to subtraction facts
  • To write a number sentence to solve problems
  • To subtract using the make 10 to subtract strategy

SOCIAL STUDIES

  • To distinguish between needs as things we must have to live and wants as things it would be nice to have
  • To identify food, clothing, and shelter as needs each family has
  • To understand that people use money to buy goods and services in markets
  • To explore the choices people make when buying needs and wants
  • To describe jobs that people do to earn money to meet their needs and wants
  • To identify items a family might need and want while away from home

RELIGION

  • To demonstrate understanding that the Church is God’s family
  • To explain that followers of Christ are called Christians
  • To define Christian and Sign of Peace

Week at a Glance

ELA

  • To segment and blend up to 5 sounds
  • To add suffix -s to words with 5 sounds
  • To add suffixes -ed, -ing to unchanging base words with closed syllables
  • To introduce vowel teams: oa, oe, ow, ou, oo, ue, ew, au, aw
  • To differentiate between narrative fiction and informational books
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • To know and use text features to locate more information 
  • To identify and use frequently occurring prepositions and prepositional phrases
  • To categorize words related to mammal by defining their attributes
  • To identify frequently occurring prepositions and prepositional phrases and understand how they provide more information
  • To identify which question word the prepositional phrase answers
  • To explain how the authors’ reasons support the point that “bald eagles are the best.”
  • To choose a reason and complete Sentence Frames
  • To choose evidence from multiple texts for a collaboratively written opinion piece about favorite animals 
  • To categorize words related to attributes of the field cricket

MATH Chapter 3 test on Thursday

  • To add three numbers by looking for doubles or making a ten
  • To subtract by counting back 1, 2, 3

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. Students make simple musical instruments using only their heads and string.

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 segment and blend up to 5 sounds
  • To add suffix -s to words with 5 sounds
  • To add suffixes -ed, -ing to unchanging base words with closed syllables
  • To introduce vowel teams: oa, oe, ow, ou, oo, ue, ew, au, aw
  • To differentiate between narrative fiction and informational books
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • To plan an informative paragraph about how two animals use the same feature differently
  • To know and use text features to locate more information 
  • To write and draw evidence about the chimpanzees uncovered through text features
  • To identify and use frequently occurring prepositions and prepositional phrases
  • To add a drawing to a written description of how two animals use the same feature differently to clarify ideas
  • To categorize words related to mammal by defining their attributes

MATH 

  • To act 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 by looking for doubles or making a ten

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. Students make simple musical instruments using only their heads and string.

RELIGION

  • To tell that Jesus served his friends
  • To explain that Jesus wants us to follow his example 

Week at a Glance

ELA

  • To understand the closed-syllable concept with short vowels
  • To understand closed syllable vs open syllable
  • To introduce vowel teams: ai, ay, ee, ea, ey, oi, oy
  • To differentiate between narrative fiction and informational books
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • To plan an informative paragraph about how two animals use the same feature differently
  • To know and use text features to locate more information 
  • To write and draw evidence about the chimpanzees uncovered through text features
  • To identify and use frequently occurring prepositions and prepositional phrases
  • To add a drawing to a written description of how two animals use the same feature differently to clarify ideas
  • To categorize words related to mammal by defining their attributes

MATH 

  • To use near doubles to add
  • To act 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 by looking for doubles or making a ten

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. Students make simple musical instruments using only their heads and string.

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 understand the closed-syllable concept with short vowels
  • To understand closed syllable vs open syllable
  • To introduce vowel teams: ai, ay, ee, ea, ey, oi, oy
  • To differentiate between narrative fiction and informational books
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • To generate and answer questions about What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?
  • To identify and use an index and a label, identify the main topic and key details, and order verbs from softest to loudest using the informational passage Whales
  • To identify frequently occurring prepositions
  • 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 about how two animals use the same feature differently
  • To categorize words related to the word mammal
  • To know and use text features to locate more information 
  • To write and draw evidence about the chimpanzees uncovered through text features

MATH 

  • To count on 1, 2, 3
  • To count on using pennies
  • To use a number line to add
  • 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 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 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 up to four sounds
  • To blend and read words with R-controlled vowel sounds: ar, or, er, ir, ur
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • 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 an informative paragraph describing one of a sea horse’s unique features
  • To write an informative paragraph that includes two or more details about one of a sea horse’s unique features

MATH  Chapter 10 assessment on Thursday. 

  • To look for a pattern to solve patterns
  • To combine three-dimensional shapes to make a composite shape

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 retell the Bible story of a solid foundation
  • To identify Saint Ignatius of Loyola as someone who made good decisions and lived like Jesus
  • To explain that the commandments are God’s rules
  • To explain the basic steps in making a good decision
  • To define commandment and Ten Commandments

Week at a Glance

ELA

  • 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 up to four sounds
  • To blend and read words with R-controlled vowel sounds: ar, or, er, ir, ur
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • To determine the main topic of the whole text Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea
  • To organize information by matching a detail about a sea horse with its corresponding unique feature
  • To identify and use text features, such as an index, text box, and labels, to locate key information 
  • To select two details to include in an informative paragraph about a feature of a sea horse

MATH  

  • To look at attributes to identify cubes and rectangular prisms
  • To look at attributes to identify cones and cylinders

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 retell the Bible story of a solid foundation
  • To identify Saint Ignatius of Loyola as someone who made good decisions and lived like Jesus
  • To explain that the commandments are God’s rules
  • To explain the basic steps in making a good decision
  • To define commandment and Ten Commandments

Week at a Glance

ELA

  • 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 up to four sounds
  • To blend and read words with R-controlled vowel sounds: ar, or, er, ir, ur
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • 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 information in an informative paragraph
  • To define words by category and one key attribute
  • To complete a Sentence Frame describing an attribute a sea horse has

MATH  100th day on Monday!  Chapter 9 test on Thursday.

  • To partition shapes into four equal parts

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
  • To explain the significance of Ash Wednesday

Week at a Glance

ELA  Unit 7 Fundations assessment on Tuesday

  • 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 up to four sounds
  • To blend and read words with R-controlled vowel sounds: ar, or, er, ir, ur
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • 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 information in an informative paragraph
  • To define words by category and one key attribute
  • To complete a Sentence Frame describing an attribute a sea horse has

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

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 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

We will continue i-Ready diagnostic testing this week.

ELA 

  • To introduce glued sounds: ank, ink, onk, unk 
  • To blend and read words with ng or nk
  • To segment and spell words with ng or nk
  • To read ng/nk words with a suffix
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • To describe the connections between the story and the author’s note
  • To identify and use determiners such as articles and demonstratives
  • 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
  • To describe the purpose of information in an informative paragraph
  • To define words by category and one key attribute, using sea horse
  • To complete a Sentence Frame describing an attribute a sea horse has

MATH  

  • To use two-dimensional shapes to make a composite shape
  • To use two-dimensional shapes to  make a composite shape and compose new shapes from the composite shape
  • To use logical reasoning to solve problems
  • To partition shapes into two or four equal shares and identify how many parts there are in the whole

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

We will begin i-Ready diagnostic testing this week.

ELA 

  • To introduce glued sounds: 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 describe the connections between the story and the author’s note
  • To identify and use determiners such as articles and demonstratives
  • 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
  • To describe the purpose of information in an informative paragraph
  • To define words by category and one key attribute, using sea horse
  • To complete a Sentence Frame describing an attribute a sea horse has

MATH  

  • To use defining attributes to identify and describe circles
  • To compare two-dimensional shapes
  • To use two-dimensional shapes to make a composite shape

SCIENCE

  • In this Read-Along lesson, Amy notices that baby animals look a lot like the adults in their families—and then discovers that she does, too! The lesson includes a short exercise where students get moving by acting like farm animals. 
  • Students work together to match pictures of animals with their babies.

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 

  • 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 signal unknown words while listening to Me…Jane text read aloud
  • To select the best topic statement for an informative paragraph
  • To identify determiners in sentences
  • To signal determiners in the sentence
  • To identify the key details and main topic of sections of the text Me…Jane

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.

SOCIAL STUDIES 

  • To make decisions about the best way to be a good citizen
  • To describe characteristics of being a good citizen

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 introduce the concept of base word and suffix ~s
  • To introduce the concept of plurals
  • To explain the difference between narrative fiction and informational books
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • To signal unknown words while listening to Me…Jane text read aloud
  • To select the best topic statement for an informative paragraph
  • To identify determiners in sentences
  • To signal determiners in the sentence
  • To identify the key details and main topic of sections of the text Me…Jane

MATH  

  • To read time to the half hour on an analog clock
  • To use a digital clock to tell and write time to the half hour
  • To tell and write time to the hour and half hour using digital and analog clocks

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.

SOCIAL STUDIES 

  • To make decisions about the best way to be a good citizen
  • To describe characteristics of being a good citizen

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