During my twenty-one years as an educator, I have had a diverse teaching experience.  I taught K-12 art at Sedgwick for five years and fifth grade at an Edison elementary school for a semester.  I had taught three years at a private Christian school and am now in my thirteenth year at Sunrise Christian Academy.  The opportunity to teach an assortment of disciplines has been appealing to me at Sunrise.  With dual K-9 and art education certification, I enjoy using my love of science, math, and art to teach junior high students not only about the order of God's creation, but about its beauty as well.

I teach pre-algebra to 7th graders who are on an accelerated track and 8th graders who are on the regular schedule plan.  Pre-algebra is designed to transition students from arithmetic to algebra.  Beginning algebra concepts are covered as well as geometry, statistics/probability, and problem solving.  Having taught Algebra I in previous years, I have a clear understanding of the foundational tools that need to be mastered in order for students to be prepared for success in Algebra I.

Life Science 7 is an excellent, challenging preparatory course for the biological sciences.  It introduces and explores each of the kingdoms of organisms from a biblical viewpoint, pointing to the irreducible complexity of organisms and the ecosystems that support them.  Theories of origins, both evolution and biblical creationism, are discussed in light of scripture in order to enable students to defend their faith with scientific facts as well as scriptural supports.  Hands-on activities (from dissecting animals to growing plants) and a trip to the zoo are experiences that make life science truly come alive for the students.

Junior high art is an elective that offers a change of pace from the rigors of academic courses.  The class serves as an introduction to the visual arts.  Students have an opportunity to explore many drawing mediums such as graphite, colored pencil, chalk, and oil pastel.  Paint mediums include watercolor, acrylic, and tempera.  Basic drawing and design concepts are covered, and color theory is introduced during the first semester.  During second semester, an introduction to certain periods of American art are used as a focus for doing a variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional projects that build on the art concepts taught during the first semester.  A new and exciting addition to the art department this year is a ceramics kiln.  Basic pottery hand-building techniques have been taught, and students have enjoyed making several ceramic pieces--and then glazing and firing them.  I look forward to developing this area of the art curriculum further.