Professional Work
My name is Marissa Hoffman but I am commonly referred to as Math Hoffman or Hoffman2point0 when at school because my sister and I work at the same school and we have to differentiate the two Ms. Hoffmans! I teach students in grades 9 - 12 at a high school in Broward County, Florida. I just finished my second year of teaching and I taught sections of Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Pre Calculus. Each class is my favorite for very different reasons - I can't fairly compare the courses because they're all so different as are the students at each level. Along with teaching I am also the class sponsor for the Class of 2018. This group of students are now juniors and I have enjoyed watching them grow during their high school career - I have been their sponsor since they were freshmen! I am also the co-sponsor of First Priority a student-led Bible study club that holds weekly meetings as well as hosts service projects during the school year.Aside from working with the students I also try to be involved at my school by working with other teachers as much as I can. Starting in August I get to help plan out the curriculum for the Algebra 1 team of teachers! I am very excited for this opportunity to work with my colleagues and have time aside from the regular school day to plan out lessons that are rigorous and engaging! Lastly, I enjoy attending professional development seminars. In a few weeks I will be attending a CollegeBoard workshop to be certified in teaching Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus BC. I earned certification in teaching AP Calculus AB last summer and back in November of 2015 I attended a workshop to earn certification in teaching Math Studies for the International Baccalaureate program. I fully believe that in order to be a great teacher you have to be a great student and never stop learning!
Interests
Outside of school I am rarely resting. I love going out and finding new, healthy food to eat at local markets or shops. When I'm not doing I am usually exercising! I have a lot of energy and I love to move (but I will never underestimate the enjoyable peace and quiet of an evening at home)! Once in a while you will find me reading a book when I'm done with grading papers or homework for this degree program. I enjoy classic novels but I am currently reading a how-to book to learning algebra. Even though I teach and love the subject it's always interesting to read tips and tricks on how to solve algebraic problems from points of view other than the textbook companies!Portrayals of Teaching
It may seem odd, but I am not a huge movie or television fan. The last movie I saw in theaters was when I was back in high school some 6+ years ago. As well, I usually do not have the time to follow along with current television shows. I am an avid Netflix user and tend to watch reruns of older sitcoms.
However, one movie that I love for several reasons, including its portrayal of teaching and learning is Remember the Titans because it shows teaching and learning going on amongst several relationships: student to student, adult to adult, and student to adult. The film largely echoes the themes of respect and perseverance which are some traits of which those in the public system should be constantly reminded. The video clip above demonstrates one of my favorite dialogues of the movie. The tension between the two players is evident since both players are not communicating with each other. The end of the scene is where my favorite line comes in to play: "Attitude reflects leadership." This is true for everyone in the school system - students, student-leaders, teachers, teacher-leaders, and administrators. If a leader would take some time and notice the attitudes of his or her colleagues she will notice that those attitudes stem from the leadership she is providing. If a teacher wants students that are hardworking, who persevere, and find learning opportunities in every mistake, then the teacher has to set the example and lead by example.
Lastly I love the television show Everybody Loves Raymond and even though the show is not centered around school, school does work into the lives of the adults through their children. In this clip above you will find a funny snippet of a parent-teacher interaction gone wrong. Even though the television show is a comedy, I think it creatively brings to light the disconnect there can be between teachers and parents. It serves as a reminder how important the parental role is in supporting a student's education and that teachers should reach out to parents as often as possible. Parents care and want what is best for their children. Since some parents are not familiar with the ever changing school systems, it is the teachers job to stay in touch with parents about their child's strengths and weaknesses. It takes a team to help every student reach his or her greatest potential!
Hello 2.0!
ReplyDeleteFirst in your school, now in my classes. Glad to have you back for a second time. I was interested in particular, this time around, how much religion turned up in your post. The Bible study you lead, the Civil Rights themes of the Titans (religion is never far away there), and the Catholic school context of Raymond. I really like your choices here--the Raymond one is funny. But there is some interesting truth there. I bet more than one teacher has wanted to tell a parent that and there is a type of truth in what he says--you parent at home and leave school to me (he's just such a crabby jerk about it, I thought).
Anyway, rich food for thought as you start of the course. Looking forward to it!
Kyle