First Grade
Cynthia Pighini, with Da Vinci since 2000
Contact
Phone: 847-841-7532 ext 228
Email: cpighini@dvacademy.org
Degrees Held
BA in Marketing Communications, Columbia College
MS in Early Childhood Education, Rosary College
About Me
I have been teaching at Da Vinci Academy since the school opened
in 2000. I taught both First Grade and K-8 art during my
first year, and since then I have taught First Grade only.
Prior to teaching, I worked in the advertising industry for 12
years. Although I was successful in that field, I never felt
satisfied or fulfilled. I returned to school and found all
that I was looking for in teaching. In fact, teaching has
allowed me to be far more creative than I was in my previous
career.
In addition to teaching at Da Vinci, I also teach gifted
enrichment programs for Northwestern
University's Center for Talent Development. It is a
privilege to be a part of the Da Vinci Academy community. The
enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity of the children keep the
excitement of learning alive.
What To Expect In First Grade
Most of the first grade
curriculum uses a unit format that is theme/topic based.
As much as possible, I integrate language arts, the creative arts,
and some math into science and social studies themes. Being
immersed in a topic allows students to think more deeply about what
they are learning and to make meaningful connections at their own
pace.
We typically cover the following units in first grade: Geography
and Map Skills, Dinosaurs, Animals and Habitats, States of Matter,
Weather, Climate and the Seasons, Ecology, Early Man, Ancient
Egypt.
I strive to balance the types of activities my students engage in
throughout their school day. My classroom environment allows
the children to explore, to question, to express themselves through
meaningful conversation, and to work independently as well as
within a group. I have a creative approach to curriculum
design which I believe further provides my students with
opportunities to explore their thoughts and ideas, and to find
logical connections in their world.
I have high expectations for my students. I believe the
development of their learning skills to be equally as important as
what they learn. Our world is constantly changing, so a
student who knows how to learn and tackle a problem is far more
competent than one who repeats facts. As Charles Darwin said
- "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the
most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most
adaptable to change."