1st Grade

My name is Jennifer Gibbs and I am the first grade teacher at Holy Family.  I have been in the teaching profession for 15 years and at Holy Family for four years.  Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to teach in multiple grade levels within different school districts.  I have gained so much knowledge throughout my career and have met so many wonderful colleagues, families and students.  I have been in a handful of school buildings, but consider only one "home" ......Holy Family Catholic School.  

I have a son an two dogs at home.  We are a huge soccer family!  We enjoy a little bit of traveling, watching baseball and soccer, and playing games with friends and family.  I graduated from Hayden Catholic High School, Ottowa University (BS) and Baker University (MAed).  

I am continually learning more and more Spanish to help me communicate with some of my students and their families.  I enjoy teaching my students a little but of Spanish and ASL in my classroom.
 

Portrait of a Mustang - 1st Grade

There is so much happening in the first grade classroom at Holy Family Catholic School! We learn so many things in so many different ways. The first graders enjoy singing and dancing, drawing and writing, building and exploring! We are able to integrate subjects and learn across the board. 

One major event that first graders get to experience is the butterfly life cycle. We get to observe caterpillars growing, making their chrysalis, and developing into beautiful butterflies. During these exciting weeks, we also discuss the importance of God’s creation and the seven days He spent creating our world. The first graders document their observations of the caterpillar, learn the migration path of the Monarchs and follow it on the map through North and South America. We discuss how the current butterfly will look like its parent butterfly and about their habitats. We learn how butterfly’s wings have patterns and that some butterflies hide using camouflage. As the butterflies grow, we write an observation sentence each day creating an observation log working on our spelling and grammar skills. Lastly, we let the butterflies go near the school and get to watch them fly off to live their life. After we release the butterflies, we learn a little more by watching additional educational videos about butterflies.

A second major project the first graders complete is a published book title, When I Grow Up. The project is in cooperation with Student Treasures Publishing. Our book project takes the students through the writing process AND what happens to our pages as it is being published. We learn about community helpers and ways they work within the community. From there, the students choose what they want to be when they grow up. With the help of our classroom para, Ms. Garcia, the students break into groups and research their career choice. We use our knowledge of writing complete sentences, using proper punctuation, and word choice to write a few sentences about why the student wants their career choice. After careful editing, the students illustrate their page for the final book. The completed book is sent off to the publishing company. While we wait for our book to return to the classroom, we watch a video of the publishing process and packaging of the book. Parents have the opportunity to purchase the class book and hold on to this memory of their child in first grade. I get to start a collection of When I Grow Up from each first grade class I teach and show them each year to a new set of first graders. The students love getting the book back and seeing their final product!