Andrea McCann

I taught high school math for three years before staying home to raise my children. In those three years, I taught Algebra I & II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus and Calculus, as well as a freshman science class. In my third year, I also wrote and taught a remedial class for high school freshmen to relearn 8th grade material. Since leaving full time education, I have substitute taught high school math and worked as a private tutor.

I am rather old-school in my teaching. I like to be at the overhead or document camera, and lead the class through the lesson. After showing the class how to do a problem, we continue on through more examples. With each one, the students progressively become the teachers, telling me what step is next and guiding each other. By the end of the example problems, I have them work them independently, only showing the correct work and answer after they have finished. I have found this very effective in my classroom, and with my tutoring clients. Easing students into responsibility for the material allows them become familiar with the steps and procedures before they are expected to perform for a grade.

My best teacher moment was on graduation night at my first teaching job. I had a Senior who had had failed the Exit Level Mathematics TAKS, not once, but twice already. Thus, he was repeating Algebra II with the hope of passing TAKS so he could graduate in May. He passed in November and promptly transferred out of my class. Everyone was milling about after the ceremony, when he appeared at my side. I suddenly found myself off the ground, spinning like a top, enveloped in a bear hug. When he finally put me down, he said, "Miss Weldy, thank you so much. I wouldn't have graduated if it wasn't for you!" That's going to be a hard one to beat.

BS - Mathematics, minor in Physical Science

I am married to a fellow math teacher, and have three young sons who are probably smarter than me.