Staff Connection: Christine Keith
I was born and raised in Massapequa, New York and I moved to North Carolina in 1994. As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. My best friend Annie and I used to play school when we were growing up. Her dad put a small chalkboard in her garage and we would both take turns gathering the neighborhood children and pretending to be the teacher (We are both teachers today - and specialize in reading!) I have an Undergraduate Degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Old Westbury and a Master’s Degree in Reading and Special Education from NCSU. I started out teaching Pre-K at Head Start in Brooklyn, NY and then taught second grade for three years when I moved to NC.
Reading has always been such a big part of my life. I loved reading The Little House on the Prairie books and the librarian was one of my favorite teachers in elementary school. While I loved teaching in the classroom, I was always more interested in the students that didn’t learn as quickly as others. As a result, I decided to get my Master’s Degree at NCSU in Reading and Special Education. I have been a reading specialist since 1999, and this is my 20th year teaching at Underwood Elementary! Last year I decided to extend my learning and took the online training to become a Level I Certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner. I earned this certification in July 2018 and I have learned so much about teaching students with dyslexia.
I have two children that went to school here at Underwood. Shannon is 19 and a Freshman at NCSU (go Wolfpack!) and Aidan is 15 and attends Vernon Malone College and Career Academy. I have a boyfriend named Garry and we’ve been together for almost 5 years. I have a foster dog named Hannah. She is a pitbull and I started fostering her after we lost our sweet pitbull, Niyah, to lymphoma last year. I want to do everything I can to help this breed overcome the unfair stigma that the pitbull name carries. They really are the best dog breed!
My favorite place in the world is near the ocean. In my spare time, which is rare, I love to read, take walks, ride my bike and spend time outdoors. I am so grateful to be at Underwood and part of this amazing school family!
- Each year we keep an ongoing document of awards received on behalf of Underwood, Underwood students or Underwood staff. Please notify Ashley if you have anything to share!
- Underwood’s Fuel Up to Play 60 grant was approved for $4,000, half to be spent on farm to school activities and the other to be spent on a recess refresh with work on the playground.
I was born and raised in Massapequa, New York and I moved to North Carolina in 1994. As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. My best friend Annie and I used to play school when we were growing up. Her dad put a small chalkboard in her garage and we would both take turns gathering the neighborhood children and pretending to be the teacher (We are both teachers today - and specialize in reading!) I have an Undergraduate Degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Old Westbury and a Master’s Degree in Reading and Special Education from NCSU. I started out teaching Pre-K at Head Start in Brooklyn, NY and then taught second grade for three years when I moved to NC. Collaboration
Grants (including Donor’s Choose) - Thank you to Ellen Nightingale and Mallory Mbalia for being
our Grant Contacts. Ellen is willing to provide support in writing grants that would also include Donors
Choose. If you are intending to apply for a grant be sure to meet with one of them as grants are approved
by these two leaders.
Media Center- So, in support of MTAC's focus:
MTAC will meet next on Thursday, January 24. MTAC's focus this year is Equity and
Cultural Competency. To learn more, please join us and/or check out the
Library Media Program Portfolio (this is a work in progress.) Also, we ask that all staff
members consider the following:
- How often do my students have access to the library? How often do my students have access to technology to support their learning? How can I help to improve my students' access to resources? How can the library media program help to improve my students' access?
- We will be beginning a diversity audit of our collection in January. Do you know of parents/community members who would be interested in assisting with this task Questions? Contact Andrea.
Creativity
Claymation Studio – STEAM Workshop opportunity through the United Arts Council
Do you like Gumby, Wallace and Gromit or the Noid? We will explore how these movies are created
using claymation, a stop motion style of video making. In the classroom you can use claymation to
show plant cycles, retell stories or explain a process. During the workshop, you will work in small
groups to explain a science concept, such as force and motion. You will sculpt a figure in clay and,
with your group, show interactions between each group member's sculpture as you learn the basics
of how to create your own claymation stop motion videos. What better way to assess your students’
understanding than through a fun and engaging arts-based project? iPads will be provided for use
during the workshop.
When: Saturday, January 12, 9 am - noon; Where: MJH Gallery at the United Arts Council; Cost: Free,
but you do need to register by emailing full name, position, school, and email address to
rcarlile@unitedarts.org ; For whom: Wake County elementary educators. CEU credit available.
Let’s learn more about YOU!! In the celebrations section of this blog, we have been featuring our new
staff members in an effort to learn more about them. Now it’s your turn! We would like to showcase
all staff members throughout the course of the year. (These will also be archived in the Team Drive).
If you are willing, send Ashley 2-3 paragraphs as well as emailing me a picture of you! Things you might
want to mention
Critical Thinking
Admin aspirations? - NC Fellows Program is taking applicants until January 15, 2019. There are also
two info sessions along with fellow Unicorns that have been a part of the program or considered it at one
time.
Science Books- This past Friday, I provided all Leadership chairs in Kindergarten, First, Second and Third
grades a set of books. These books directly align to your science standards. You can each have a book
box or combine the books and use them to teach all small group. Please let Alexandria know if you have any questions.
June 2019 License Renewal- If you are up for renewal in June, I have emailed you personally and told you
how you are with your credits. On April 15th, you will need to go to the online state licensure site and apply
for your license. You cannot do this prior to that date, or it will all be returned. Please let Alexandria know
how to support you with this process!
NKT- The window for mid-year NKT opens up on January 28th. You only have to assess the students that
were in the red and yellow at the BOY. In this link you will find the grade level list of these students on each tab.
Communication:
Electives-The last day of electives is Thursday, January 10th. Elective will be down for two weeks and then
resume on Monday, January 28th. 5th grade registration will begin on Wednesday. Elective slips will go home
with students on January 22nd. Elective report card comments are due on January 29th. The comments should
be specific to the objectives of the elective. For any student receiving a 2 in any area on the elective report, an
explanation should be provided.
Business Meeting on Tuesday at 7:45am.
Check the shared Underwood google team drive, folder-Daily absences and info for the preferred sub list.
Resource for parents to include in your newsletters:
Just a reminder that our Homework Resources for Parents page is growing! We now have ELA resources for
Grade 3 through 5 in both English and Spanish! This is a great way to engage families in how to have the
conversations with their child around their learning. You can find it by going to Parents, then Homework
Resources in the dropdown, on either the district site or on your school's homepage.
Helping Hands
Electives-The last day of electives is Thursday, January 10th. Elective will be down for two weeks and then
resume on Monday, January 28th. 5th grade registration will begin on Wednesday. Elective slips will go home
with students on January 22nd. Elective report card comments are due on January 29th. The comments should
be specific to the objectives of the elective. For any student receiving a 2 in any area on the elective report, an
explanation should be provided.
Business Meeting on Tuesday at 7:45am.
Check the shared Underwood google team drive, folder-Daily absences and info for the preferred sub list.
Resource for parents to include in your newsletters:
Just a reminder that our Homework Resources for Parents page is growing! We now have ELA resources for
Grade 3 through 5 in both English and Spanish! This is a great way to engage families in how to have the
conversations with their child around their learning. You can find it by going to Parents, then Homework
Resources in the dropdown, on either the district site or on your school's homepage.
Helping Hands
No comments:
Post a Comment