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Kathleen Houck has worked in the Gridley Unified School District 20 years, teaching at Wilson, Sycamore and now McKinley as a first grade teacher.
She started out at Wilson teaching kindergarten when the class was riffed and she took a resource position at McKinley. She worked at Sycamore when an overflow caused kindergarten and first graders to be located there for awhile.
Houck appreciates the wonderful staff at McKinley who feel like family to her.
She is married with two adult children and six grandchildren.
As a re-entry college student, she and her daughter, who said she would never teach children, student taught at the same time. This is her daughter's tenth year teaching.
Houck's has just 20 first graders in her class. She taught kindergarten in the last five years and kindergarten students are now doing the work that first graders used to do such as reading, science and math.
"Those mature enough can do the work. Eventually it will be five-year-olds in kindergarten instead of four year olds. Starting in 2012, the month of birth required will be bumped back a month, so that if the child is five-years-old in November in 2012; five-years-old in October 2013 and five-years-old in September 2014, the schools will be aligned with other States who already have the beginning Kindergarten age at five-years-old," she explained.
“This will be a big improvement to see that happen," she said.
Houck said continuing culture comes through the arts. "The kids need to be able to express themselves, get creative ideas. They are hampered now with so many State demands," she stated.
Students at McKinley have a lot of science education because of a five year grant. In the first grade, students are supposed to learn all continents and oceans to follow all the standards. The main emphasis is teaching the students to read which the teachers at Wilson appreciate when they have second graders coming in already reading.
Gridley Unified School District makes it clear what the best opportunities are for the children.
"Kindergarten and first grade kids here are different from those coming from other districts who have not had the same expectations and have to catch up sometimes. Parents are a big help when they have the same goals in mind for their children. We appreciate when they are involved with the kids at home with their school work," she said.
Kathleen Houck has worked in the Gridley Unified School District 20 years, teaching at Wilson, Sycamore and now McKinley as a first grade teacher.
She started out at Wilson teaching kindergarten when the class was riffed and she took a resource position at McKinley. She worked at Sycamore when an overflow caused kindergarten and first graders to be located there for awhile.
Houck appreciates the wonderful staff at McKinley who feel like family to her.
She is married with two adult children and six grandchildren.
As a re-entry college student, she and her daughter, who said she would never teach children, student taught at the same time. This is her daughter's tenth year teaching.
Houck's has just 20 first graders in her class. She taught kindergarten in the last five years and kindergarten students are now doing the work that first graders used to do such as reading, science and math.
"Those mature enough can do the work. Eventually it will be five-year-olds in kindergarten instead of four year olds. Starting in 2012, the month of birth required will be bumped back a month, so that if the child is five-years-old in November in 2012; five-years-old in October 2013 and five-years-old in September 2014, the schools will be aligned with other States who already have the beginning Kindergarten age at five-years-old," she explained.
“This will be a big improvement to see that happen," she said.
Houck said continuing culture comes through the arts. "The kids need to be able to express themselves, get creative ideas. They are hampered now with so many State demands," she stated.
Students at McKinley have a lot of science education because of a five year grant. In the first grade, students are supposed to learn all continents and oceans to follow all the standards. The main emphasis is teaching the students to read which the teachers at Wilson appreciate when they have second graders coming in already reading.
Gridley Unified School District makes it clear what the best opportunities are for the children.
"Kindergarten and first grade kids here are different from those coming from other districts who have not had the same expectations and have to catch up sometimes. Parents are a big help when they have the same goals in mind for their children. We appreciate when they are involved with the kids at home with their school work," she said.
Kindergartners are given a package of work to take home for the week and first graders do some of their homework in the class. Homework in math is sent home and the teachers want the children to read at least 20 minutes each night.
"We want them to learn the joy of reading. They enjoy reading. We take field trips to the library," Houck said.
Houck's college focus was initially in art, achieving not one degree, but two.
The first graders enjoy painting and creating things such as painted rocks to be used for paperweights. They also learn about reptiles, amphibians, dinosaurs, birds and mammals.
"I'm so glad I was not hired in Chico. I was able to grow with this district taking course work for professional development. Chico's school districts are so large. Teachers there are not given the opportunities that local teachers are. In Chico, teachers are entered in a "lottery," which means only certain teachers might be lucky enough for added course work.
Houck will take a two day course this week at Sycamore with fellow teachers, after the children have left for the summer, which will focus on bullying and what teachers should watch out for.
Also this summer, Houck will find time to plant flowers and work in her yard, read and take walks.
"I work with a great first grade team. We share and support each other and meet every other week to strategize and learn from each other," she said.
