Middle School Science Teacher, Mrs. Mattecheck shares what it’s like to teach at the Academies of Math & Science. She teaches 6th, 7th and 8th grade science at the Academies of
Math & Science – Flower.
Video Transcription:
I teach three different classes, so everyone is doing something different. I try to do a couple of labs a week and that varies from a super-cool lab like dissections or like the balloon lab we did today. But in a typical day, I teach 6th graders twice every day and so we will usually do a more non-lecture-style lessons, because I don’t really lecture that much, but it is the lesson, so you had to take notes on these things, you need to know these things. So then, you can have this lab where you’re applying all this knowledge, you have these laws written down and now you get to see them work. So that’s a typical day for my 6th graders.
Then with my 7th and 8th graders, we have a similar structure but it’s for the whole week so we will usually do the lessons at the beginning of the week, and then we’ll apply that knowledge in the labs at the end of the week.
Each grade has their own pacing guides that they’re focused on. I teach the biology and chemistry portion of it and then there’s the physics portion of it that another teacher covers. So for me, I get to teach genetics and heredity and I get to teach the basics about everything that they will learn more in-depth in high school. Which is awesome, because in my experience, when I was in Middle School, I didn’t learn everything. I didn’t learn chemistry in middle school and I didn’t learn physics in middle school. But here, they are getting a taste of that they’re getting exposed to it which is great because I think the more you hear something in science, the more it’s going to stick eventually. Therefore, hearing it in middle school and then hearing it again in high school is going to help them remember it more, and retain that information.
I get to do as many labs as I want, I get to do dissections and field trips; “the sky’s the limit!” My admins are super supportive so they’re always on board with whatever crazy idea I want to do. We have a class pet and I get a incorporate that into the lessons anytime I want and we’re going to get more class pets… so that’s what makes me excited.
About Academies of Math & Science (AMS):
AMS has been providing award-winning STEAM curriculum throughout the state of Arizona for nearly 20 years. Our tuition-free schools provide scholars with the best educational experience in the study of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.
At AMS, we believe that through a well-rounded education, we can transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s global visionaries.
With 9 state-of-the-art campuses in Phoenix and Tucson Arizona along with our 100% online virtual academy, AMS is providing word-class STEAM education to over 6,000 students.
Academies of Math & Science is a tuition-free open enrollment educational network. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about AMS, feel free to complete the contact form and one of our friendly and knowledgeable Enrollment Specialists would love to offer you assistance.
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“What’s incredible about AMS is its desire to constantly grow. There is never a point in time where AMS is content with where it’s at. There’s always a goal and always something to strive towards and that is a team I want to be a part of.
My name is Curtis Walker, and I am the Principal of Academy of Math and Science Flower.
Six years ago, I began my career with AMS as a teacher. I was a middle school language arts teacher and I transition from middle school language arts to an Assistant Principal position with the Camelback campus. Three years ago, was asked to become Principal and serve the community at AMS Flower and so three years ago I became the Principal at the Academy of Math and Science.
What makes AMS Flower so special and different from any other school is our sense of community. Here at AMS Flower we celebrate one another, we have a growth mindset, we look out for each other every single day and that is something that you do not find anywhere else.
Each and every day our teachers come to work, and they are happy to be here. That is something that you don’t find often when you’re talking about schools and education, especially in the midst of pandemic. And so our teachers come ready every day, happy and ready to work for our kids and ready to serve our community.
From front office, to facilities, to our paraprofessionals, to our teachers; there is a sense of collaboration, there’s a sense of community and we have each other’s backs.
Every minute matters. Every minute of instruction matters and every minute of building and fostering relationships matter here at AMS Flower. Our kids need us just as much as we need them. Our kids are special there is so much hope so much potential so much that we are looking forward to seeing all of her students on a daily basis.
Our students start with us beginning in kindergarten and they matriculate all the way through to 8th grade and that is something special within itself. What happens within those years is all on our teachers. Our teachers work their hardest every single day and commit themselves to planning lessons on a daily basis, ensuring that our students receive the highest quality of Education possible.
Along the way, there’s the integration of Technology and making sure that celebrations are happening along the way. Our teachers want to make sure that our students have every opportunity afforded to them outside of AMS Flower.”
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