Mathematical Connections

I have been a mathematics classroom teacher since 2008. My experience includes teaching Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 at the intermediate and high school levels. My focus is making Algebra 1 accessible to all students by creating a solid mathematical foundation and building on this with conceptual understanding and connections during algebra lessons. My lessons include technology integration and peer collaboration. They are centered around PowerPoint instruction and guided notes pages.

I aim to achieve diversity, engagement, conceptual understanding, rigor, and practice in every one of my lessons. Accuracy and flexibility in mathematical instruction are crucial and I am constantly changing my lessons to make them the best possible educational resource. The goal is to provide fellow educators with lessons unlike others offered. Since I use all of these lessons in my classroom, they must give my students the most positive, challenging, mathematically appropriate education I am capable of. Diversity means a variety of types of problems are provided in every lesson so all students feel challenged and engaged. Check out my blog: http://www.mathfromtheheart.com/blog.html

Algebra students achieved top scores in the district for state exams. Received the District Vision Award in Curriculum Development and Implementation

M.A. Teaching University of California, Irvine (August 2009) Single Subject Teaching Credential Certifications: CLAD Certificate, Supplementary Authorized Subject: History Bachelor of Arts Major in History, Minors in Education & Political Science University of California, Los Angeles (June 2005)

When I first started teaching I constantly looked for resources that reflected my teaching style: engage students with innovative and easy to follow instruction. I had a difficult time finding these resources so I developed most of my lessons with guided notes from scratch. I hope new and experienced teachers will now be able to use my creations instead of having to dedicate 8+ hours per lesson to create the same on their own! One of the many benefits of these lessons is they flow nicely in a 50 minute class period and prevent teachers from forgetting to mention something during the lesson because it is covered on the slide (without being text heavy). Prior to teaching, I was a pharmaceutical sales representative. I left that position due to the lack of job satisfaction because my role lacked a sense of fulfillment from making a difference in the lives of others. Although there was a significant decrease in salary, I never regret my decision to become a mathematics teacher. I love my students and the opportunity to show students a side of mathematics that is a polar-opposite experience from the dry, procedural-based instruction of the past.