GREAT DAYS BEGIN AT LAS COLINAS

About Me

I am very excited for my seventh year at Las Colinas (9th in PVSD) as I begin my 22nd year teaching.  This year I have the privilege of teaching 8th grade math, 7th grade Math Accerlerated, and a Math 1 Support class as I help our students get ready for higher mathematics.  I spent the past eight years teaching 8th, 7th, and 6th grade math during the common core transition, so I have a perspective which allows me to know where the students have been and where they are headed. My favorite topics to teach include exponents and problems involving the interior angle measures of regular polygons.  During my teaching career, I also spent over 13 years as a physical education teacher (PVSD Elementary PE Specialist, LAUSD, Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education, the Briggs School in Santa Paula, and an elementary school in Oregon).  During my free time, I enjoy traveling (been to all 50 states at least twice), exercising (completed 3 marathons), spending time with my family (15 year old son and 12 year old daughter), and coaching.  I have coached the Las Colinas soccer program (won championship in 2019 and 2022 and posted a lifetime 33-1-2 record over 3 seasons), flag football team with Mr. Jacobs, and basketball team with Mr. Castaneda.   Flag football tryouts are starting and I also look forward to coaching a co-ed soccer team at Las Colinas in the spring.  I'm excited for another great school year!

Things Students Can Do To Raise Their Mathematical Level During A Break (or any down time)

1. Click on the "links" section to the left and review concepts from the 7th grade textbook (integers, equations, proportions).
2. Click on the "links" section to the left and review concepts from the 6th grade textbook (fractions and decimals, ratios)
3. Review Class Notes
4. Read ahead in the current chapter to gain a greater foundation for a topic that will be taught later in the month or year.
5. If you are an A student, challenge yourself by clicking on the Algebra textbook link to give yourself extra problems.
6. Go to Khan Academy in the links section and use the tutorials.
7. Turn every road trip into a series of math problems.  Example:  If we are driving to Las Vegas and hit a one hour traffic delay over the first two hours, what speed will we need to drive the rest of the way to arrive by 5pm?

This may look complex now, but you'll be working with quadratics before you know it!