Hello SSJ Family!
Welcome to Technology and 4th Grade Honors Math class! My name is Lucia Biddle and this will be my second year teaching at SSJ. Saint Ignatius of Loyola said, “God is at the center of everything and provides meaning for our lives.” I believe these words eloquently describe what it means to be a student and teacher in a Catholic School environment- God is our center and at the heart of everything we do.
My path to becoming a Catholic school teacher has had many twists and turns. I graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a B.A. in Romance Languages (French and Italian). Next, I graduated from Villanova University School of Law and worked as an attorney in Media and Philadelphia for several years. I then earned my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Cabrini University and became certified in Elementary Education and Middle School Math.
I look forward to creating a Technology and Honors Math experience that will be educational, challenging, and fun for all students this year!
Mrs. Biddle
In the Technology class, we will cover the skills necessary to learning and working in the digital age. We will have a large focus on learning grade-level computer navigation, typing and coding skills. We will also complete creative and engaging projects using Google Slides, Docs, and Sheets while incorporating different core subjects into the world of technology.
21st Century education emphasizes interdisciplinary project-based learning. In the SSJ technology program, students will incorporate skills and knowledge that are covered in all other subjects, and all other subjects will incorporate technology.
While our program will cover the entirety of the Archdiocesan curriculum, I would like to highlight what will make SSJ stand out and the changes and adaptations that are underway in order to set up our students for success in the future.
This year all students will first become proficient- to grade level -at typing efficiency and accuracy. This is to ensure they can perform the basic needs of student life.
We will also concentrate on developing proficient grade-level block coding skills for grades K through 8th. Coding incorporates the logical thinking associated with science, math, and religion, but leaves room for the creative thought, problem-solving, and abstract understanding involved in music, literature, and the arts.
Middle grades will be further challenged to think creatively and innovatively. They will be challenged to develop the “next big thing,” identify shortcomings in previous developments, and solve technical and logical problems. There will also be many opportunities for cross-curriculum activities and projects.
Moving the Department into the Future
As a school, we are determined to grow with the latest technologies and strive to provide each student with the greatest advantage to learn. Some of the ways we are trying to do this are:
Honors Math is a challenging course taught to qualified students to prepare them for accelerated high school mathematics. Students are identified as potential candidates for Honors Math at the end of 3rd Grade. The Saints Simon and Jude School Honors Math program begins in 4th Grade.
Honors Math Criteria