Grade 1, Room 11 - Mrs. Kathy DiFlorio

I  graduated from West Chester University and received a B.S in Elementary Education and a M.E.D in reading. I am also a certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner. My experience as a reading specialist has given me the opportunity to work with diverse groups of students with mixed abilities in various school settings. I’ve worked at The Elwyn Institute in their non-public school program, The West Chester Area School District, and St. Dorothy School in Drexel Hill where I taught first grade.  I am married with three grown children and we belong to Saints Philip & James Parish.  I’ve been employed at Saints Simon and Jude School since 2011. I am so thrilled to be teaching first grade and nothing brings me more joy than teaching my students how to read!

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All about 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.
 
ELA
Our Reading series is Wonders, McGraw Hill. 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, 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
Science and Social studies themes are integrated in our ELA units. Our extension activities include Scholastic News, Science Spin magazines and Discovery Education.
 
Specials
The children attend Art, Library, Music, Gym, Computer, and Spanish classes once a week.