Grade 1, Room 1 - Mrs. Christina Clarke
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Email - cclarke@simonandjude.orgAll About First Grade
Blog:
Welcome to First Grade! I am very excited to be your child’s teacher this year. I have spent the past 9 years teaching second grade at Saint Francis de Sales Elementary school in Aston, PA. Prior to my teaching experience, I received my bachelors degree from Neumann college where I majored in Elementary Education K-6 and minored in Special Education N-12. My husband and I recently relocated closer to the area with our 2 small children. As soon as I walked in the doors of SSJ, I knew it was the right fit for me. I am happy to be a part of such a warm and welcoming community.
WELCOME TO FIRST GRADE!
Our goal is to provide an inviting educational setting in which your child will be challenged, happy, and successful in first grade. We strive to make sure every child is treated with dignity and respect by all class members.
As directed by the Archdiocesan curriculum, the subjects taught at SS. Simon and Jude School are: Religion, English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social studies, Computer, Art, Gym, and Spanish.
Religion
Our series is RCL Benzinger Blest Are We. During the year we cover Creation, The Trinity, Baptism, Sacraments of Initiation, selected Saints, Feast Days, and Liturgical Seasons.
We have an additional weekly Religion enrichment class taught by Sister Betty, IHM.
ELA
Our Reading series is Scott Foresman Reading Street. The key focus points in ELA are aligned with the diocesan adoption of the Common Core Curriculum Standards in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language, and media and technology.
Math
Our math series is aligned with the diocesan adoption of the Common Core Standards. The series is Houghton Mifflin, Go Math. The content includes: Operations and Algebraic Thinking, Number and Operations in Base ten, Measurement and data, and geometry. Math lessons are interactive and the children use smart boards and manipulatives in daily lessons and center activities.
Science and Social Studies
In Science Lab, we are using Lab Learner and are studying senses, staying safe, properties of solids and liquids, discovering life, plants and animals, and weather changes. Social studies themes are integrated in our ELA units such as Animals, Tame and Wild, Communities, and Changes in Our World.
Specials
The children attend Art, Library, Music, Gym, Computer, and Spanish classes once a week.