Veni, vidi, vici
Latin teacher Nicole Curry is a pro at capturing students’ concentration on a classical language in a modern way.
The middle and high school teacher infuses the Latin language and culture into call-and-response raps, teaches with foreign accents and incorporates activities into the lesson to hold students’ attention.
The Royersford resident taught at the Phoenixville Area School District for four years and previously taught for a year in the North Penn School District at Penndale Middle School.
Curry, who teaches six classes a day between the Phoenixville middle and high schools wheels a bag of teacher tricks with her to each class period.
Philadelphia Magazine recently recognized her for teaching students in sixth through twelfth grades in all levels of Latin language mastery.
As a teacher of students in seven grade levels, Curry said she feels lucky to guide her Latin students through a large part of their academic career.
Certified to teach both social studies and Latin, Curry chose to follow a career in education because of her love for Latin, mythology and history. In addition to her love of the classic language, she was inspired to become a teacher by her former high school Latin teacher, who allowed her to be creative in class.
Curry, who had a background in theater in her grade school and high school years, incorporates her creative teaching tactics as a way to reach out to students.
“There is a spot for everybody in my classroom,” she said.
To hold the attention of students, Curry speaks in clear Latin with a southern, British or “Borat-like” accent to liven up grammar and vocabulary lessons.
She also organizes educational games in the Latin language, such as Latin Yoga, which focuses on Latin vocabulary and directional terms. Curry also holds call-and-response lessons set to a section of DJ Kool’s perennial hit song, “Let Me Clear My Throat.”
In the past, while studying mythology and Roman culture, students have created catapults and Roman shields out of cardboard and marched outside, while practicing Latin terms and vocabulary drills.
Curry thinks kinesthetic learning and following directions in a different language can help students learn terms quickly and efficiently rather than just memorizing terms for a test.
“I try to keep students engaged in the lesson. Novelty is an important component in helping students remember, and I want them to be able to take the vocabulary and use it beyond my classroom,” Curry said.
She encourages students to learn Latin and multiple languages.
“Latin has a reputation of being a dry, dead language, but it is useful,” Curry said.
According to Curry, Latin can help students understand the roots of the English language, think outside of the box, think critically and quickly learn other foreign languages.
“When you hear an adult say they took a language for four years and can’t remember a word, it breaks a teacher’s heart. Teachers know they have to use techniques that will help students in the long run,” Curry said.
Her advice to first-year teachers is to find a personal teaching style that gets kids excited about learning.
This school year she hopes to incorporate interactive technology into the classroom that would allow students to videoconference with other school districts in Latin to work on her student’s conversational Latin skills.
In addition to paying close attention to individual students in class, Curry keeps close contact with the parents of students as a way to help ensure her students’ success.
Currently she is organizing a school trip for students in grades nine through 12, set for July 2010, to Italy, Rome and Greece.
Students do not have to take Latin to attend and fundraising opportunities are available. For more information call 484-927-5100, ext. 4216 or e-mail curryn@pasd.k12.pa.us.
The middle and high school teacher infuses the Latin language and culture into call-and-response raps, teaches with foreign accents and incorporates activities into the lesson to hold students’ attention.
The Royersford resident taught at the Phoenixville Area School District for four years and previously taught for a year in the North Penn School District at Penndale Middle School.
Curry, who teaches six classes a day between the Phoenixville middle and high schools wheels a bag of teacher tricks with her to each class period.
Philadelphia Magazine recently recognized her for teaching students in sixth through twelfth grades in all levels of Latin language mastery.
As a teacher of students in seven grade levels, Curry said she feels lucky to guide her Latin students through a large part of their academic career.
Certified to teach both social studies and Latin, Curry chose to follow a career in education because of her love for Latin, mythology and history. In addition to her love of the classic language, she was inspired to become a teacher by her former high school Latin teacher, who allowed her to be creative in class.
Curry, who had a background in theater in her grade school and high school years, incorporates her creative teaching tactics as a way to reach out to students.
“There is a spot for everybody in my classroom,” she said.
To hold the attention of students, Curry speaks in clear Latin with a southern, British or “Borat-like” accent to liven up grammar and vocabulary lessons.
She also organizes educational games in the Latin language, such as Latin Yoga, which focuses on Latin vocabulary and directional terms. Curry also holds call-and-response lessons set to a section of DJ Kool’s perennial hit song, “Let Me Clear My Throat.”
In the past, while studying mythology and Roman culture, students have created catapults and Roman shields out of cardboard and marched outside, while practicing Latin terms and vocabulary drills.
Curry thinks kinesthetic learning and following directions in a different language can help students learn terms quickly and efficiently rather than just memorizing terms for a test.
“I try to keep students engaged in the lesson. Novelty is an important component in helping students remember, and I want them to be able to take the vocabulary and use it beyond my classroom,” Curry said.
She encourages students to learn Latin and multiple languages.
“Latin has a reputation of being a dry, dead language, but it is useful,” Curry said.
According to Curry, Latin can help students understand the roots of the English language, think outside of the box, think critically and quickly learn other foreign languages.
“When you hear an adult say they took a language for four years and can’t remember a word, it breaks a teacher’s heart. Teachers know they have to use techniques that will help students in the long run,” Curry said.
Her advice to first-year teachers is to find a personal teaching style that gets kids excited about learning.
This school year she hopes to incorporate interactive technology into the classroom that would allow students to videoconference with other school districts in Latin to work on her student’s conversational Latin skills.
In addition to paying close attention to individual students in class, Curry keeps close contact with the parents of students as a way to help ensure her students’ success.
Currently she is organizing a school trip for students in grades nine through 12, set for July 2010, to Italy, Rome and Greece.
Students do not have to take Latin to attend and fundraising opportunities are available. For more information call 484-927-5100, ext. 4216 or e-mail curryn@pasd.k12.pa.us.
