First Grade

Inside the First Grade Classroom

With a teaching career that began in 2008 and extensive international experience, Mrs. Aida Yanza brings a global perspective to First Grade at All Saints. In her classroom, students are more than just pupils; they are "smart, kind, and important" individuals learning to navigate a big, curious world.

Building Independence Through Routine

The day in First Grade is designed to foster personal responsibility from the moment the first bell rings. Ms. Yanza empowers her students to manage their own space and supplies:

• Morning Ownership: Students are responsible for organizing their own belongings—folders, sweaters, and lunch bags—ensuring their workspace is ready for a day of discovery.

• A Consistent Rhythm: The day follows a predictable structure, beginning with MyView (Language & Literature), followed by Science, Social Studies, Phonics, and Math.

• Joyful Closings: The afternoon concludes with Religion and singing. Mrs. Yanza uses music to send children home with a sense of happiness and accomplishment.

The Heart of the Curriculum: Phonics and Literacy

For Mrs. Yanza, the most critical goal of First Grade is teaching children how to read. This is especially vital for her bilingual students, many of whom speak Spanish as their primary language at home.

• A Tool for Life: Literacy provides students with the independence to navigate their own homework and move confidently through society.

• Traditional Skills: While the SMART Board is used to show students the world in "real-time," Mrs. Yanza prioritizes handwriting over tablets. She believes the physical act of writing connects different parts of the brain and teaches students the value of patience and focus.

"I believe in handwriting... it shows something about yourself. It teaches them to be focused and to make it good." — Mrs. Yanza

A Collaborative Learning Environment

Mrs. Yanza’s classroom is "less typical" than most. Instead of individual desks, students sit at large, shared tables to foster a sense of community.

• Navigation & Empathy: This setup requires students to learn how to manage their space and navigate the people around them.

• Peer Support: It creates a space where students are ready to help one another and discuss new ideas.

• Kindness First: Every day, the class recites a mantra of kindness. Mrs. Yanza reminds them that they must be kind to themselves before they can be kind to the world.

A Window to the World

Instruction in First Grade often moves from the "specific to the big." Students might start by looking at a local mountain and end by discussing the solar system. Mrs. Yanza uses technology as a backup tool to prove that the world is a vast, exciting place full of things to discover.

Whether it is learning about the U.S. Constitution or the life cycle of a plant, the goal is the same: to make students curious about everything.

Faith as a Big Tree

Faith is integrated into the classroom not just through stories, but through the way students treat one another. Mrs. Yanza teaches the Archdiocese of Hartford standards through the lens of the commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself.

She shares a beautiful metaphor with her class: God is like a big tree that offers shade to everyone who comes to it. Students learn that they are the "little leaves" on this tree. This inclusive approach teaches them to find God within themselves and within every person they meet.