Classroom Adventures with Carissa

I have been a math teacher for 7 years at a school for students with Language Based Learning Differences. I have taught geometry, algebra 2, precalculus, and probability and statics. I have my masters in Special Education from Boston University and my Bachelors degree in Mathematics and Recreation from Gordon College. I am a Massachusetts licensed teacher in Moderate Special Education and Secondary Mathematics.

I believe all students can learn math in the right environment with the right tools. As someone who grew up with a learning difference, I always took note of what good (and bad) teachers did that made learning fun and accessible. Now as a teacher of primarily higher level math, I always start class with a "low level/entry" question that prepares students for the "harder" topic of the day. I teach through questions and guiding students through using tools and strategies they already have to figure out how to approach this "new" problem.

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I am dyslexic and the majority of educational experience I was an outsider because I could not learn in a traditional classroom. However, math class was always a place where I felt like I could succeed because "words didn't matter here". I was fortunate enough to have many fantastic math teachers who really allowed me to stretch and reach my potential. I went from being in "regular level" classes to taking AP Calculus my senior year and scoring a 5 on that exam without accommodations. And I truly believe that is because I had teachers that gave me the tools to succeed. In my undergraduate, I really struggled to find success particularly because I didn't have the skills or strategies to fully understand my learning difference and how to best get the support I needed. But, I did graduate on time and began my teaching career at a small LBLD school down the road. Here is where I really learned what it meant to be dyslexic and gained strategies to support myself with my high perceptional reasoning and low working memory. I graduated from BU with my highest GPA ever and got my Masters Degree. I became the first person in my family to not only have a Bachelor's Degree but also a Masters Degree. Now as a teacher, my goal is to create a classroom where everyone feels welcomed and valued so they can learn math too!

Along with being a math teacher, I also teach an outdoor leadership class and a STEAM lab class. These classes really allow me to feel fulfilled in my career as I'm not stuck in "academics" all day. In addition, I am a houseparent to a dorm of 30 female students at our school, allowing me to build deeper connections and relationships with my students.