How does the APH teaching philosophy look in your classroom?
My primary goals in teaching are to provide students with a safe framework in which to build their own mathematical and scientific understanding while helping them take ownership of their learning and embrace their individual learning styles. In order to accomplish the above goals, I strive to continuously discover and use tools to develop student understanding. This includes doing group participatory work, asking students to discuss their ideas inside and outside the classroom, and recognizing that students can be effective teachers of each other. In order to promote independent learning, I encourage students to problem-solve together and to use tools available in and out of the classroom to assist with their learning, such as graphing programs, websites, or manipulatives available on the Internet.
What excites you about The Academy at Penguin Hall?
I am excited that I’m working with the girls at APH in STEM classes. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share some of my engineering and construction experiences. My teaching philosophy aligns well with the nurturing environment of APH. I’m in a place where we can do more than just “do math and science” — I can provide the framework for girls to gain a deeper understanding of math and science. I’m also excited about the class sizes and the extra support that we provide to the girls. APH is an environment where I can get to know my students and where we can have valuable shared experiences together beyond the classroom.
Share something interesting about yourself.
I’m an avid crocheter and crafter. I learned how to crochet in middle school and haven’t stopped since. My favorite things to crochet are made with recycled materials, such as potholders made from yarn scraps and old blue jeans to rugs made from t-shirt yarn. I picked up recycled crafting (aka upcycling) while working at a school in Honduras where “necessity was the mother of ‘upcycled’ invention.” I left many of my recycled crafting projects with friends in Arizona, but I’m planning on recreating some of them at our new house, such as the tire snowpeople, solar light chandelier, and rusty pail planters.
Amy has a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and a MS in Mathematics Education from Northern Arizona University