Mrs. Karen Isola Green
Math Teacher and Consultant in Math Education and Curriculum Enhancement
266 Holyoke Dr
Spring Creek, Nevada 89815
I began teaching in Ruby Valley, Nevada in
1972 and officially retired my certificate in 2022 as I had to admit that the long classroom day and commitments to all the "extras" had reached my limit. My experience has been mainly in Middle School, both at Clayton in Reno, and many years at Spring Creek Middle. I have taught preschool , elementary, and college instruction as well as substituting both short term and long term for friends. I know I learned from those stints, as every teacher has unique ways to manage and apply their own twist to curriculum.
I dabbled in a variety of adventures of doing math and curriculum development, supervised student teachers for Great Basin College as well as offering methodology for teaching at Sierra Nevada College, outreach in Elko.
I so enjoy the dynamics of the classroom so when "retired" I then ventured into PBS lessons which took me back to elementary school, third and fourth grades. More recently I have signed back up for the PBS outreach for the preschool age students. In between I have done a few College classes, done presentations for the National Council of Teacher of Mathematics, and a small stint at the Nevada Youth Training Center for court appointed intervention for at risk students.
On a whim I decided to roam the state testing students that were in on line programs..I found the few years of testing students for Elko County throughout the state an insightful activity as well. I called it going to the "dark side" as I felt competent teachers know constant testing takes away from teaching time and engagement time for students. As in any endeavor, one forms a new perspective of the dynamics of working with all types of students. These test "victims" were mainly high school students who for various reasons (pre covid) were no longer attending school in person but enrolled in online programs.
With each passing year, I have found that seasoned teachers like me, might be able to mentor those still in the trenches. My goals now are to share some ideas, books, and experiences that might help teachers better their craft. Sometimes it is learning a few strategies and techniques of forming a climate of respect, excitement, and caring. It's imperative to focus on how to ask the right questions of the students to make them explore and analyze their answers. Granted, it is a real challenge to change the children from being simply regurgitators of information to become competent in being true problem solvers. Teachers can make the difference in students wanting to be curious about subjects that are state mandated but more importantly to develop an appetite for understanding how to be motivated to observe, question, analyze and form good thinking skills.
When not teaching, mentoring, consulting I find time to explore new places and new ideas. I enjoy gardening, fishing, traveling, and family activities.
I am a mother of two, Jason and Melissa, both are now adults facing the real-world ups and downs. I am a happy wife to Michael and caretaker of my dog, Lucca. My biggest new adventure began in February of 2018 when I became a grandma to a light in my life boy who calls me Bumba! He is teaching me that some of the games I used for middle schoolers can be adapted to a six year old's concept levels..
In 2007 I had the honor of representing the State of Nevada as the Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching. It was memorable, and enabled me to make great connections with 49 other awardees, some of whom I still maintain contact.
After I retired from the classroom and started the aforementioned ventures, I included some math tutoring. Now at 74 I have decided to see if I can enhance math skills for students and their families with zoom games. If you or someone you know is interested, please call me ( 775)340-3102, or email me. I know I am going to enjoy being a math facilitator on this format.
Each week I plan to present a new game or activity designed to make math an activity for both students and family members to enjoy.
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