Mrs. Andis

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About The Teacher Label:


About The Teacher
Hi, My name is Mrs. Andis and I LOVE teaching math. I earned my Secondary Math Degree at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in May, 1975. Yukon High School has been my home for the past eight years.

Mission Label:


Mission
My philosophy of teaching is constantly growing and developing with each and every student I encounter. Believing that all children can learn when given the chance, I am thrilled to be a part of their learning opportunity. We all know every child learns math at different levels and speeds, so it is my goal that my students and I will “Math Bond” each day. By bonding over the independent process of learning, and realizing the excitement of math’s structure and order, students gain confidence and interest in mathematics. Creating this “math bond” that facilitates learning mathematics is important for all high school students to become successful members of society. Not only is math a logical thought process that is applicable in many aspects of everyday life regardless of the student’s intended futures, but the study of math also teaches valuable organizational and social skills. It is important for every child to have the desire to learn more mathematics and use those skills in their everyday lives. This is the philosophy that continues to motivate me. The first step in helping students grasp mathematics is to create a structured learning environment, I introduce each lesson with prior knowledge that my students are comfortable with. I always start with what they have learned in an earlier grade, such as “adding” a first grade skill. Then, I gradually unfold the lesson to a point where they can teach the new concept to themselves. I am merely there as their driving force, the person who helps them feel comfortable with the knowledge they came in with and the ability to problem solve as a group. They feel they can master all concepts. Soon they gain confidence in advancing their understanding of mathematics and can master the new concepts on their own. They are involved in the “Math Bonding” experience. It is important for us as a class to grow together and help each other to be successful problem solvers. There is no “I” in my classroom, only “we” as a math family. These social skills not only help them learn math skills but also will help them be better co- workers and family members. Along with social skills and personal confidence in the learning process, math courses also teach students a thought process that is important in attaining organizational skills. These skills will enable them to solve life problems more successfully. While they may never have to use the quadratic formula again, the process of following steps from beginning to end is a necessary procedure to become a productive, successful citizen. Following a recipe, reading directions for assembling a bike, and filling out an income tax return are all common occurrences in our adult lives which utilize math based thinking and problem solving skills. Using analytical skills developed in math classes will make these tasks easier to accomplish as adults. As they venture into the business world, it is important they are able to use their math skills. Most jobs require some post secondary training; many of those require a strong basis of mathematics. When my students leave our classroom, I want them to have the best chance for success. I am dedicated to make learning exciting and enjoyable for my students. I strive to create a warm, welcoming climate conducive for all learners. Looking at each individual and meeting his or her academic, social, and intellectual needs is of utmost importance to me. My continual encouragement and belief in all students helps them gain confidence in themselves. Watching them grow and mature into young adults is very rewarding, and teaching them skills that will be useful later in life is fulfilling as an educator. The satisfaction of knowing that I am a positive impact on my students’ lives is what teaching is all about.