Teacher Feature⼁Introducing Kristin H.
At Pacific Preparatory, we are so lucky to work with the most thoughtful and inspiring instructors, all who bring lessons to life with engaging connections to student interests and their community. This month, we are excited to celebrate Kristin!
Meet Kristin! Kristin holds a BS in Secondary Math Education and an MA in Differentiated Instruction. Kristin has taught middle and high school math, including Pre-Algebra, Algebra 2, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and Statistics. She is dedicated to building strong relationships with students to support their individual learning needs, believing all students can succeed in math. Outside of teaching, Kristin enjoys rock climbing, hiking, reading, and watching movies with her husband.
When did you start teaching and why?
I have been a teacher since 2014! When I was in my high school PreCalculus class, I would never take home my homework. Instead, I would work on my homework in study hall, which was the class directly before my PreCalculus class. There were four of my math classmates also in the study hall. I would always work on the first problem, explain it to my friends, and move onto the next. I would be one or two problems ahead of them and enjoyed answering their questions when they had them. Years later, I learned that they did not save their homework for the next day like I did, but instead struggled with the problems the night before, asking their parents and their siblings for help. But they still did not know how to do the math until I explained it the next day. Through helping my friends, I learned that I loved figuring out an explanation that makes sense, and adjusting my explanation until it does make sense. Does that make sense? :)
What are your top 3 book recommendations in your subject area?
I love this question because people probably expect that I'd give the title of a Calculus book, but there are so many math novels out there! Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott is a wonderful story narrated by a square who goes to different dimensions and learns a new perspective. He describes width to a line who only knows length. He, as a square who only knows length and width, learns about depth from a 3D shape. It's so fun and great for any reader interested in math! Lost in Lexicon by Pendred Noyce is another great story. Similar to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, two cousins travel to a magical land through a room in their great aunt's house. This land, however, is governed by math laws and there is a town of Irrationality. It's an imaginative story and great for any reader with an 8th grade level of math understanding. The Math Olympian by Richard Hoshino is a story about Bethany, a high school girl who has been bullied for liking math, who has a dream of becoming a world-champion mathlete. We read about Bethany's trials, one of which is the lack of support from her single mom, and her perseverance through these trails to build her creativity and confidence. I'd recommend this book to any reader with a PreCalculus or Calculus level of math understanding. I'd especially recommend this book to any female looking to go into a STEM field. These books show that math can be fun and creative!
What has surprised you about teaching with Pacific Preparatory?
I love that we have time to dive into student's curiosities! I teach an enrichment math course to a 4th grade student who has a 6th grade level of math ability. He's curious about math and often learns ideas from his older sister. One day he came into class and asked me what a negative number was. He and his friend figured out how to add and subtract negative numbers, but he was curious about how to multiply and divide them. I decided to set aside my lesson plan and follow his curiosities! I never had the time to do this with my 30 students in a classroom. We had such a fun time asking questions and finding resources to help us!
What is your favorite activity to do outside of teaching?
I love to travel and be outside! I'm currently working on visiting all 50 states, and I only have 7 left: North and South Carolina, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and North Dakota. I also recently started to rock climb. I've only climbed in a climbing gym so far, but I love the combination of physical movement and mental challenge. I enjoy strategizing how I will move my limbs to best utilize a hold on the wall! But, interestingly, the first time I bouldered (climbing short heights without a rope) I dislocated my ankle. This was on a date, about two weeks into my relationship, with my now husband. I stick to top-rope climbing now and leave the bouldering to him.
Kristin’s advanced 4th grade math student, Milo, had the following to say about his beloved teacher, “Kristin doesn't follow a script like my school teachers. When I want to learn fifth grade stuff, she actually teaches it to me! She never says things like "you haven't learned that yet" or "you shouldn't know that." Math is actually fun because I get to learn things I don’t get to learn in school.”
Milo’s Dad added, “Kristin has been wonderful for my fourth-grade son's math education. Unlike his regular classroom where he feels held back by the standard curriculum, Kristin lets him explore more advanced concepts that actually challenge him. My son loves that she doesn't stick to a rigid script and instead follows his interests. He always looks forward to their sessions because she respects his abilities and never tells him "you haven't learned that yet" or "you shouldn't know that." For a bright kid who was getting bored with grade-level math, Kristin's approach has made learning exciting again!"
Kristin, we and your students are so lucky to have you!