Movement Required! 
It’s A Must!

Wander past Miss Biernat’s first-grade classroom on a Tuesday morning and you might see darkness.  This darkness doesn’t mean learning isn’t happening. In fact...it’s quite the opposite! 

Gazing into a darkened room, the site of a glowing first grade face comes from a small light brightening the classroom’s overhead projector.  A colorful circle is being formed as the student reads the word to his classmates.  It can’t help but draw you in as you watch the excitement in the young faces.  Young teachers in their own right, they guide their classmates proudly while admiring their artwork on the big screen.  Just as you think the fun is over, it only begins as the St. Joseph first graders belt out the spelling of the word while doing calisthenics. 

Miss Biernat’s teaching style is working.  Mom, Mercedes Cassata said of her son, Chase, “He is learning quite a bit.  He’s not hesitant to put sentences together.  I don’t know what she is doing in the classroom, but I can see the effects of it here at home.” 

What Biernat is doing is differentiated instruction, a style incorporated into the classrooms at St. Joseph.  “Each teacher has their own style,” said Biernat, “incorporating it in their own way.”  Biernat created her style while student teaching through Benedictine University’s teaching program.  Carrying a minor in Special Ed, Biernat worked with Autistic children, and mostly Spanish-speaking.  “We used a method to get the kids more involved and to cover the different modes of learning.  This is a wonderful activity that combines all modes of learning to better the learning experience.”  Chase’s mom concurs. “Whatever she is doing, she needs to keep doing it!” 

Page Wilson, a former second-grade teacher, is very pleased with her daughter Maggie’s advancements.  She is happy with their move to St. Joseph from their school in Louisiana. “At St. Joe, they actually let the students get dirty; they get involved whether it’s in reading, math or science.  The teachers make it tangible for them.  Maggie can feel it to understand it.” And Maggie loves being in Miss Biernat’s class. “...and I love to read!“  Maggie’s favorites are animals, fiction and nonfiction books.  She learned about the types of books in kindergarten at St. Joe.  “My favorite book is ‘Elephants’”. A true animal lover, she watches Animal Planet before school.  Miss Biernat is proud of her students, who continue to make her dreams for them come true.