Grade 1, Room 11 - Mrs. Kathy DiFlorio

My high school experience at The Academy of Notre Dame gave me a strong foundation in my Catholic faith and academics. I attended West Chester University and received a B.S in Elementary Education and a Masters in Reading. 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 in the non-public schools as a remedial reading and math teacher for several years, Green Valley Academy, The West Chester Area School District, and St. Dorothy School in Drexel Hill where I taught first grade. I am married and have three children. We belong to SS. Philip & James Parish and School Community.  I am thrilled to be teaching first grade at SS. Simon and Jude! 

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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.
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.