The True Meaning of the Equal Sign: An Introduction to Balancing Equations

Hey everyone! My name is Ethan, and I'm a high school math teacher. I hold a BA in pure mathematics and an MA in applied mathematics. I've been teaching for 10 years.

The classes I'll be teaching will be aimed at preparing students for high school level math courses. These classes will focus on building foundational skills and demonstrating how these lead to higher level concepts. My aim is really to help lower the anxiety students feel while taking a math class. I ascribe to the philosophy of Mathematical Mindset, the belief that good math will cause people to struggle (a little) and that people's brains grow when they struggle. I want to show students that math is not something to fear or dislike. I don't believe in rote memorization of formulas - I teach to provide students with conceptual understanding so they see the "why" instead of just "how," they can see how math topics build on each other, and that they develop their number sense. 

I love playing sports, particularly baseball, volleyball, tennis, basketball. I participate in the performing arts where I sing, dance, and act. I also play the piano (moderately well). One of my biggest passions is my love for table top board games and role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.