Ben Franklin: Fun Facts and a Math Challenge

I have my Master of Arts in Teaching from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX.  While in college, I had a part time job teaching art to children.  After graduating, I got hired on as a fourth grade teacher, but I've been a GT (gifted and talented) pull out teacher at the elementary level for the last 14 years, and I love what I do.  I enjoy teaching all subjects in a manner that challenges bright and gifted students.  I engage students with a problem, puzzle, or mystery and let the students use inquiry and teamwork to solve it.  I aspire to be a "guide on the side" instead of a "sage on the stage" and allow students to take charge of their learning.  I find that when students make their own discoveries, the lessons are more meaningful to them.  Students take pride in their work when they mentally sweat to complete it.  I am inspired by students who come up with solutions to problems that I had not even considered, and in order for students to do this, they need some freedom to explore and create.  I provide the students the tools they need to be successful, but I let them build.