Welcome to 5th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies. My name is Carrie Katai, and I love being part of the wonderful school community at Horseshoe Trails. In 5th grade, we read a variety of fiction and non-fiction stories about many interesting topics.  In addition, we write short stories, essays, reading responses, poetry, plays, and so much more. I am extremely passionate about reading, writing, and history, and I can't wait to share my excitement with you this year. 

I am originally from the suburbs of Chicago but moved to Arizona sixteen years ago to be closer to family. I attended The University of Iowa (Go Hawkeyes!) for my undergraduate degree and National Louis University in Chicago for my Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. While living in IL, I taught 2nd grade for five years. This will be my tenth year teaching 5th grade at Horseshoe Trails, and I absolutely love it!

My husband and I have two amazing children. Paige is a junior at Cactus Shadows, and Grant is a freshman at Cactus Shadows. We also have two adorable pug mixes named Shermy and Millie, who we are all absolutely obsessed with!

I am committed to working hard to make this year an enjoyable, memorable, and successful year for everyone!

Contact Me: Carrie Katai

For specific information about classwork, please log into our Google Classroom.

Educational Philosophy
Seeing the incredible growth of my students, both personally and academically, inspires me each day. By promoting persistence, kindness, and accomplishment, I hope to instill confidence and compassion in my students.