Where It Starts
I always thought about being a teacher, but it was never the first on my list of careers. I didn't think I was fit to be a teacher... or at least the idea of what I thought a teacher was supposed to be. I have always been a…
The Background
I have always had an interest in Mathematics as well as Chemistry/Physics, during high school these subjects became easier to understand, and wanted to continue to be pushed. Where English and History I did not have an interest in and where I struggled but still was taking college-level classes…
Doing math for fun??
When I think about what it takes to be a passionate math student, and what it takes to be a teacher who creates passionate math students, it's very easy for me to gain some clarity by reflecting on my own experiences growing to appreciate mathematics. It wasn'…
Identity/ Exploration
Personally, I liked my biology classes in high school, but I didn't love them. What I loved was the teacher. She always had fun activities, and I really collected with that as a way to help me connect the topics to the real world, even if I did…
Representation
Ever since I can remember I have been in love with education. My parents didn't have the opportunity to go to high school, as a matter of fact, my dad only went up to sixth grade but he was still really good with numbers so since I was…
A Social Scientist
As a child I was always a little different from my peers. I had to move frequently and during the school semesters I lived with my father in a small country town in northeast Connecticut. Every school break I would go to my mothers in an even smaller mountain town…
Science Is Part Of our Life
"Necessity is the the mother of invention!" I grew up with this quote and actually I do not know who said it first, and if it is in English exactly as I translated from Arabic. This quote jumped on my mind when I was trying to write about…
Why Math?
Ever sense I started school in kindergarten, I liked math. It came easily to me and it made perfect sense. I remember being moved to the, "advanced" math group in 4th grade, and I was so excited to learn more. However, for the longest time, I only like…
Challenge Accepted
Student learning and engagement happens within a sweet-spot of rigor - when students are required to dig deep to access their potential, but with enough opportunity for success that they can imagine this potential, even if still struggling to access it. Science when taught in this sweet-spot, differentiated for each…
Once a Builder, Always a Builder
When children are young and their personalities start to emerge, you can begin to see their desires and preferences in the choices they make; what toys they chose to play with, with whom they chose to play, or how much imaginative play they engage in. Many of those preferences carry…