About
Christine
These are only some of the many books that I’ve taught over the years.
King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audry Wood and Don Wood
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban and Garth Williams
House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendack
Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Dr. Desoto by William Steig
Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue by Maurice Sendack
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers by George Shea and Don Bolognese
The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto by Natalie Standiford and Donald Cook
The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers ed. by Lee A. Jacobus
Rhetorical Grammar: Grammatical Choices, Rhetorical Effects by Martha Kolln
Emma by Jane Austen
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles
Angels in America, Parts 1 and 2 by Tony Kushner
for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf by Ntozake Shange
Paradise Lost by John Milton
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Othello by William Shakespeare
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to learn a little about me. I am a distinguished teacher and tutor with six years of experience working closely with students of all ages and a wide array of abilities. I am dedicated to the education of successful and struggling readers and writers, and so I strive to be a clear, patient, and warm tutor.
My most extensive experience has been at the college level. At the University of Maryland, I have followed established curricula and designed my own courses. In large and small classes and in one-on-one conferences, I have taught university students close, thoughtful reading and literary analysis; writing about literature; persuasive writing; and rhetoric. I have also worked in the University of Richmond and the University of Maryland University College writing centers, where I have tutored undergraduate essays in the humanities and in the social and natural sciences, too. As a college writing tutor, I have helped students understand assignments, write persuasive arguments, and organize their thoughts; I have also provided feedback on smaller, grammatical and stylistic issues.
My other substantial experience comes from the reading development classes that I have taught to students ages 4 through adult. In age-appropriate classes and in one-on-one settings, I have coached reading speed, efficiency, comprehension, concentration, and recall. I have helped students to hone note-taking, composition, and study skills. Additionally, as part of these classes, I have counseled students’ parents on how to foster a productive learning environment for their children. My time with younger students and their parents has helped me to develop an attitude toward teaching in general -- and toward teaching reading and writing in particular -- that looks beyond rigorous university curricula. I account for the full and diverse development of the each English Language Arts scholar, young or not-so-young. My wide range of experience helps me to appreciate where each student has been and where he or she is going.
It should not be left unsaid that I am truly excited about language and books. My avid reading and enthusiasm for writing inspired me to declare an English major in college, to finish an English M.A. in graduate school, and now to pursue an English Ph.D. Even while reading and writing have become the central focus of my work days, I often curl up with a new book in my free time. I believe that my sincere appreciation for the English Language Arts cannot help but inspire and motivate my students.
I am currently living in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, NY. I spend most of my days writing my dissertation, which is tentatively titled “Making English Low: A History of Laureate Poetics, 1399-1625,” and which traces the intersection of the early English poet laureateship and early popular culture. I hope to finish by this spring.
To contact me, send an email or call (301) 356-3403.
Literature Instructor
English Department,
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
- Intro to Drama
- Intro to English Literature
before 1800
Writing Instructor
English Department,
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
- Intro to Academic Writing
Teaching Assistant
English Department,
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
- Intro to Shakespeare
Reading Teacher
Institute of Reading Development, Bethesda, MD
-
-Reading enrichment classes for students ages 4 through adults
Writing Advisor
Effective Writing Center, UMUC, College Park, MD
Writing Tutor
Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC), University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
...still working...
Ph.D. (expected 2010)
Medieval and Renaissance English Literature
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
M.A. (2005)
English Literature
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
B.A. (2003)
English Major;
History Minor
University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
International Shakespeare Summer School (1998-9)
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
“In our children’s programs (pre-K through 5th Grade), Christine used her warmth, engaging dynamic ability, and imagination to instill in her students success, confidence, and excitement for books and learning [...] In middle school and high-school classes, Christine successfully established environments of hard-work, responsibility, and trust. Students in these classes responded very positively to Christine, allowing her to push them to levels of success, achievement, and confidence that regularly surprised the students themselves.”
- Justin Stafford
Teacher Manager, Institute of Reading Development