How long have you worked in education; what is your background?
I have worked in education since graduating with a BS in Early Childhood Education from Salem State College in 1974. I began my teaching career as a substitute teacher in the Cambridge Public Schools. In 1975, I was appointed to a Grade 4 classroom at the Webster School in Cambridge, which is now the location of the Amigos School. I transferred to the Tobin School in 1977 and taught Grade 3 in the Magnet Program. Since then, I have taught in Grades JK/K, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5 and 5/6 at the Tobin School, always in a multi-graded classroom. I feel very fortunate to have had experiences teaching in nearly every grade level.
In 2007, I was a recipient of the Cambridge Public Schools' Conant Fellowship and attended Harvard University Graduate School of Education where I enrolled in the Technology Innovation in Education program and received a second master's degree in education. I also hold a Master's degree in Elementary Education, K - 8 Reading, from Boston State College.
In 2008, I returned to Tobin/Tobin Montessori as a Title I Math Interventionist. The following year I was appointed JK - 8 Math Coach. My years of experience as an elementary classroom teacher and in multi-grade classrooms prepared me well for both of these jobs.
Over the years, what have students taught you about teaching math?
Over the years, students have taught me that they love 'mucking' about in Math ideas. They learn best from sorting out their own errors. They learn best when listening to others explain how they approached problems and came to correct solutions. They taught me that they are very happy when they accept a challenge, persevere in problem solving, settle on a solution and feel a sense of achievement.
What are some of your initiatives of which you are most proud?
I am proud of always valuing the learning enhancement created by mixed-age classrooms and striving to be a part of those programs. I am proud of being a part of the move to make math learning a constant topic of conversation in the classroom and at home. I am proud of being a part of the absolutely amazing coaching and leadership team at Tobin that sets the bar high and has a visible impact on student achievement. I am proud of being part of a teaching faculty that is constantly opening classroom doors, examining teaching practices, evaluating their impact on student achievement, and making changes to differentiate for individual student's needs.
Do you have any advice to share with parents or kids about math?
Here’s my advice to parents and kids about math:
See Math - everywhere. Adding up a grocery bill to figuring out how much gas you need to make a trip to deciding out which burger joint has the best buys to counting exactly how many stuffed animals one has in their collection, how many rectangles do you see in the kitchen, etc.
Hear Math - everywhere. How did the sales person count out the change you got from the $5 dollars you gave him at the corner store; how many inches of snow did the weather person say we were going to get and would that snow fit in your bath tub?
Speak Math - everywhere. Which way do you count out the change you get at the grocery store; how do you count out the money in your piggy bank or jar of pennies; how DID you figure out how many pieces of pizza each person could get if you ordered 3 pizzas; how many months, weeks, days, hours until your next birthday?
Do Math - everywhere. Figure out how many pieces of silverware you need to set the table for dinner - 4 forks, 4 knives, 4 spoons; figure out how many rectangles are in the windows in your house or apartment; figure out how many boots will be in the hallway if six people in the family need them to shovel the snow; figure out how many baby carrots you need for a snack if you are feeding 20 people and giving them each 6 baby carrots.
What is your favorite animal?
My favorite animal was our pet dog, Buckley. He was an incredible, irreplaceable yellow Labrador Retriever, with a 14-year devotion to every member of the family. He loved people, watching neighbors walk by on the street from his second floor window seat, waiting for family to come home, running with you on the beach, swimming with you and diving for seashells, laying at your feet fireside. He was a best friend to all in the family.
Fun fact?
All four of my children attended the John M. Tobin School.