Mrs. Cathy Walzak

Brief Bio:

        Welcome parents, students, and community members to my teacher webpage. As a teacher at Union School District, I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, Elementary Education Certification from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. This year, I am beginning my 20th year of teaching in the Union School District, which started with me being hired in 2002. During my time at Union, I have taught Kindergarten, First Grade, Fourth Grade, and Learning Support. Currently, I am a Kindergarten teacher.  I am also an assistant varsity softball coach at Union High School.

        Outside of school, I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family, reading, hiking, and cheering on the Pittsburgh sports teams. I am also a Girl Scout leader, and I enjoy supporting our Union students through the Union Music Association and Union All-Sports Booster Club.

Contact information:

        Phone: 814-745-2152

        Email: walzakc@unionsd.net

        Class Tag app - https://www.classtag.com/

Kindergarten Reading

Here is a list of some of the skills that Kindergarten students need to know by the end of the year for reading class, so you may practice them at home if you wish:

• Identify all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet.
• Identify all sounds that the letters make in words.
• Blend sounds together to read words.
• Write their first and last name.
• Be able to read taught sight words.

Reading Homework

Kindergarten reading homework consists of practicing their sight words each night, then signing the calendar in the sight word envelope in their folder each night. One time per week, a paper, decodable book will come home. Please have your child read it to you, then sign it and send it back to school in the student’s folder.

Sight Words for Reading Street

We are currently working in Unit 1.

Unit 1                                

I                                                                

am                                        

the                                

little        

a                                        

to                                        

Unit 2

have

is                                                                                

we

my

like

he

for        

Unit 3

me

with

she

see

look

they

you

of                                                                        

Unit 4                                                                

are                                                                        

that                                                                        

do                                                                        

one                                                                        

two                                                                        

three                                

four                                

five                                        

here

go

from

Unit 5

yellow

blue

green

what

said

was

where

come

Unit 6 reviews the sight words taught in the previous five units.

If we would have to do Remote Learning due to Covid-19, then we would use Google Classroom to deliver instruction. In order to access it, parents need to share their email address with me first, and then I can link you up to Google Classroom. Here is a link to my Reading Google Classroom: https://classroom.google.com/c/Mzg0ODI3MjU3ODkz

Kindergarten Math

Students need to learn to count to 100 and identify and write numbers from 0-20 during Kindergarten. Here are the topics covered during math class in Kindergarten:

• Topic 1: Numbers 0 to 5
• Topic 2: Compare Numbers 0 to 5
• Topic 3: Numbers 6 to 10
• Topic 4: Compare Numbers 0 to 10
• Topic 5: Classify and Count Data
• Topic 6: Understand Addition
• Topic 7: Understand Subtraction
• Topic 8: More Addition and Subtraction
• Topic 9: Count Numbers to 20
• Topic 10: Compose and Decompose Numbers 11 to 19
• Topic 11: Count Numbers to 100
• Topic 12: Identify and Describe Shapes
• Topic 13: Analyze, Compare, and Create Shapes
• Topic 14: Describe and Compare Measurable Attributes

Sometimes for math, we will have a worksheet for homework that goes with the lesson. If we do, it will be in their home folder on the Return to School side. Sometimes I cross out problems that I don’t want them to do, so if you see an X on part of the worksheet, that is why.

We are currently working on Topic 1.

If we would have to do Remote Learning due to Covid-19, then we would use Google Classroom to deliver instruction. In order to access it, parents need to share their email address with me first, and then I can link you up to Google Classroom. Here is a link to my Math Google Classroom: https://classroom.google.com/c/Mzg0ODI3MjU4MTQy

Self-Help Skills

Students will also be working on the following skills during the Kindergarten year:

• Tie their shoes and zip their coat.
• Be able to recite their address, phone number, and birthday.
• Write their first and last name.

Class Newsletter

Each week, I will send home a paper copy of our class newsletter. I will also post it here.