St. Joseph Catholic School

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Mrs. Andrea Fisher » Welcome to First Grade with Mrs. Fisher!

Welcome to First Grade with Mrs. Fisher!

Mrs. Fisher resides in Vernon Hills with her husband and five children.  Her husband manages Orbit Ice Arena in Palatine and is also a hockey coach.   She has two rescue dogs, a cat, a tortoise and a gecko.  Mrs. Fisher enjoys cooking, gardening, DIY projects, walking her dogs, spending time with her kids, and watching her boys play hockey and football. Mrs. Fisher attended Northeastern Illinois University and University of Phoenix where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, and she has an endorsement in Structured English Immersion for PreK-12.  Mrs. Fisher was a third grade student teacher at St. Francis de Sales School in Lake Zurich and has been a substitute teacher at St. Francis for many years.  She  has volunteered at St. Mary School in Buffalo Grove for five years as a lunch and recess monitor, created costumes for the school plays, was a “science lady” for the kindergarten class. She also helped with small reading groups or anywhere else she was needed throughout the school. Mrs. Fisher is excited to join the SJCS community!
 

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Week at a Glance

April 14th - April 19th
 

ELA

  • To learn the next syllable pattern: vowel- consonant- e
  • To recognize long vowel sounds
  • To add suffixes -ed, -ing to unchanging base words with closed syllables
  • To differentiate between narrative fiction and informational books
  • To read with accuracy and prosody
  • To expand sentences using prepositions and prepositional phrases
  • To complete a sentence frame with a prepositional phrase
  • To plan an informative paragraph stating the author’s point with supporting reasons

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 Mary is the Mother of God and Jesus was Mary’s son
  • To explain that God chose Mary to be the mother of his son, Jesus
  • To define Mary and the gift of grace
 

Week at a Glance

April 8th - April 12th
 
Spirit Week!
Monday- Pajama Day
Tuesday- Hat Day
Wednesday- Wacky Wednesday
Thursday- Sports Team 
Friday- Color Wars (1st grade wears red)
 

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

April 2nd- April 5th
 

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 Friday

  • 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

March 18th - March 22nd

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 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

March 11th - March 15th

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

March 4th - March 8th
 

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

February 26th - February 29th
 

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

February 20th - February 23rd
 

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

February 12th - February 16th
 

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

February 5th - February 9th
 

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

January 29th - February 2nd

We will continue i-Ready diagnostic testing this week.

ELA  

  • 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

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

January 22nd - January 26th
 

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

January 9th - January 12th
 

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 learn about how Jesus shows his love.
  • To learn that Jesus gives us signs of his love through sacraments.
  • To learn the three groups of sacraments including Sacrament of Initiation, Sacrament of Healing and Sacraments of Service of Communion.
 

Week at a Glance

December 11th - December 15th
 

ELA 

  • To review Units 4-6
  • 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

  • To watch a mini lesson on Polar Bears

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

December 4th - December 8th
 

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 generate and answer questions about Seven Blind Mice using key details from the text
  • To write questions on sticky notes
  • To retell Seven Blind Mice using key details from the text
  • To orally retell events of the story
  • To identify and use end punctuation for sentences
  • To analyze the characters’ actions using key details in Seven Blind Mice
  • To identify the lesson of Seven Blind Mice

MATH  

  • To use a digital clock to tell and write time to the hour
  • 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 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