I am fortunate to have had by first teaching experience at Burgundy Farm Country Day School a progressive, independent school in Alexandria, VA. It was there that I developed as a teacher leader and learned the importance of working with colleagues to build the best possible learning community. I took on many leadership positions, both formal and informal, that placed me at the heart of what makes Burgundy beautiful. My classroom encouraged curiosity and invited students to actively participate in their learning.
Moving into my current position as recitation leader and primary instructor has led me to reflect and adapt my teaching to elicit the same curiosity and engagement in college students. In Fall 2018, I taught a medium-sized lecture of College Algebra (75 students). Through this experience I learned how my teaching practices can be further adapted to reach larger classes. In the past, I could have full class discussions on new topics, bringing discovery to the class as a whole, but in a larger lecture this is impractical. To emulate these constructive discussions, I provided time for individual discovery at which time I walk around and work with small groups of students. My undergraduate assistant and I work as a seamless team, answering questions that arise during work sessions.
As an educator, I would describe myself as a constructivist and progressive teacher. I believe in supporting the growth of the whole student. At the undergraduate level this means helping them assimulate to the new demands of college life, living away from family, and growing into an independent learner. In addition, I structure my classroom to help students discover mathematics and develop a conceptual understanding of the material.
