NAME:
Mrs. Reese
SCHOOL:
Wasatch Junior High
CLASS:
Geometry & Intermediate Algebra
SCHOOL PHONE:
(385) 656-5244
Mrs. Reese grew up in Pocatello, Idaho. In high school she had 2
fantastic math teachers that instilled the love of math in her. Her algebra
teacher had fled Iran with part of his family and he was an excellent
teacher. One day the students were to take a test and the teacher had
written the answers on the blackboard in Arabic. The trigonometry and
calculus teacher was probably her favorite. He encouraged the students to
derive formulas rather than memorize them. He had a great way of getting
students to think. Mrs. Reese still uses many of his methods.
She first went to Brigham Young University to study computer programming
but decided that she didn't belong in that field of study. She then
transferred to Idaho State University where she was offered a scholarship to
run cross-country and track. She graduated with a degree in Physical
Education/Health and Math.
She started teaching in Pocatello at a junior high then she had the
opportunity to join her High school calculus teacher in a team teaching
situation since he was battling cancer. When he passed away she took over
his classes. "Going back and teaching with the teachers that taught me was a
great experience for self-confidence." When she interviewed for the teaching
job that had opened up, she discovered that they wanted a football coach so
she did not get the job.
She came to Utah and taught at Roy High School (2 yrs) and Lakeridge Jr.
(1 yr) before coming to Wasatch in 1987.
Philosophy:
Math is an exciting subject that has many applications to the real world.
She enjoys teaching math and helping students think "outside the box" of
conventional math thought. When students are held to high expectations they
often achieve more and find success in math. The use of technology is now a
major part of learning and being able to problem solve in the real world.
