By Caitlin Cruz
To show my appreciation for my teachers, I have chosen my math teacher, Ms. Rhoades. She is my favorite teacher because she is amazing at explaining how to do something. If you have any questions, she is always there and ready to help you.
When I joined ASU Prep Digital, Ms. Rhoades was super nice about showing me around the website we use. This may seem like a small gesture, but it was very important and helpful for me as a new student. Coming from a school where teachers wouldn’t give you this type of effort, her showing me how to use the website and just making me familiar with ASUPD in her support group was so helpful and impactful. The way she explains things is by showing you if you’re not sure, but if you have a specific question, she answers it beautifully with lots of information, not seeming frustrated or annoyed at all. Whenever I say I’m struggling with something, it feels like she remembers and asks about it if I have not finished it yet. This is super nice to me because she doesn’t have to do this, but she does. I got the chance to interview Ms. Rhoades, and I will illustrate how it went below:
Question 1: What is your teaching philosophy?
Answer: “So, my teaching philosophy is very much aligned with our school philosophy: All kids can. I absolutely love seeing students just excel, not only with their math curriculum, but their learning in general. One of the nice things about online learning is it dives into how you learn as an individual. So, I would say my philosophy is that I’m helping everyone succeed and making sure you understand how you learn, how you progress, and how you have fun with mathematics as well.”
Question 2: What are your favorite moments in the classroom?
Answer: “Kind of along the same lines—working with the students. So seeing y’all succeed, I know that a lot of times in Geometry it’s around the Pythagorean Theorem, and seeing students have that ‘a-ha’ moment where everything clicks. Mathematics is so beautiful because we work together. I really love the interactions with the students and seeing their knowledge grow. I also love doing spirit weeks and seeing students participate in Spirit Week.”
Question 3: Any advice for students?
Answer: “Don’t give up! I think that idea of the first attempt at success is unrealistic. We’re not just giving up here, and we need to make sure we are learning from every opportunity, even when we encounter those difficulties. Ask the questions and keep goin’.”
I hope this shows everyone reading this that your teachers care about you. So don’t be scared to speak up, and most of all, don’t give up. I also hope you show your teachers how much you appreciate them for all they do. Finally, always remember even the smallest thing you do can have a lasting impact. Have a great day.
