Abington Latin
Magistra* Crooks
* Magistra is the Latin word for teacher; it's like using Ms in English, which is my preferred address.About me: I am in my 10th year teaching, and my third year at Abington. I am PA certified in K-12 Latin & 7-12 English.
I have my B.A. in Ancient Greek and Latin from Boston University, my M.Ed in Secondary Education from Temple, and I also attended the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in the fall of 2007.
I have a particular interest in spoken Latin and so am currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Latin Studies at the University of Kentucky and also leading a Latin reading group for underrepresented genders in the Philadelphia area.
How To Contact me
Email: kirstenlcrooks@abington.k12.pa.us OR crookl@abington.k12.pa.us
Students
During Class:
You can ask during class or send me a comment through our Google Classroom or the online meeting chat feature.
During School Hours when we are not in class together:
Comment on the relevant Google Classroom post/assignment or send me an email. Make sure you include details about your concern/question and how soon you would like a reply. I will do my best to answer it by the end of the day (3:15pm).
After School Hours:
Comment on the relevant Google Classroom post/assignment or send me an email. Make sure you include details about your concern/question and how soon you would like a reply. I will do my best to answer it by the end of the day (3:15pm) but please realize that emails sent later in the day may not be answered until the next day (after 7:50am).
Parents
Send me an email. Make sure you include your child's name & class level, details about your concern/question, and how soon you would like a reply. I will do my best to answer it by the end of the day (3:15pm) but please realize that emails sent later in the day may not be answered until the next day (after 7:50am).
Why Study Latin?
Latin is useful to students who love language study in both World Languages and English, as well as students who struggle with these subjects. Latin study increases cultural awareness, helping students to make cultural connections. Studying Latin encourages students to employ basic critical thinking skills such as recognition, comprehension, comparative analysis, and interpretation. When students study Latin, they are introduced to a rich source of mythology, literature, and history.
Check out this page from the National Committee for Latin and Greek about the benefits of studying Latin, including information about how Latin promotes 21st century skills, develops skills transferable to other domains, aligns with Common Core standards, builds college- and career-readiness, and instills multicultural awareness and literacy.