Experience Summary
After graduating from the University of Oregon with a BS in Basic Mathematics and Integrated Science, I volunteered for the Peace Corps and found myself teaching math and science in a village school in The Gambia, West Africa. Upon my return from the Peace Corps I landed a teaching job at a Eugene Middle School and have taught 7th and 8th grade mathematics and science for the past 20 years there. I continue to promote mathematics education to the kids at my school with Family Math Nights, math competitions both local and national, and by blogging and newsletters. I obtained my MS in Elementary Education from Western Oregon University in 1993.
Teaching Style
I believe that all of my students can learn the material presented to them, if it is presented in the correct way. I have taken a lot of time to learn about the brain research that has been done to discover how different students learn. I like to have several tricks in my bag so that if one approach does not work I will have other methods to try to allow others to grasp the same material in a different way that makes sense to them. I am particularly sensitive to students who feel defeated in mathematics education and reap great rewards when I see that they are beginning to understand and believe in themselves.