About Me Kelly Clark
I always wanted to be a teacher and would play "school" in the driveway as a child. I would use sidewalk chalk to draw out the school, rooms, chalkboards and desks. For the longest time I wanted to be an elementary teacher, but when I began the 8th grade I had an awesome math teacher who appreciated my inquisitive nature. At the end of the school year, she wrote all the students personalized notes saying something special to each of us. This had a profound impact on me.
The summer between middle school and high school I moved out of the area and had to attend a new school in the Fall. My tests scores from my other school did not transfer in and I had been not allowed to take honors math courses as I had in my previous district. My experience with Math this year was completely different, I didn't get into "trouble" per say, but my new teacher did not appreciate my inquisitive nature. I would regularly get bored and twist my hair due to the lack of stimulation that I was accustomed to. My new math teacher would often make me sit in the hall because I was twisting my hair too much. The next year I was put back into honors. I had the same teacher for Algebra 2 and Calculus. This teacher was nice, but my grade fell because I didn't fully understand the concepts and my questions were not well received by the teacher. I quickly learned to move through the motions and ended up dropping out of Calculus because of the teacher’s unwillingness of answer my questions.
I became greatly discouraged about math from my experiences in high school. It was not until college that I realized it was not my fault. It was in one of math class for educator’s that I had a passionate and great instructor. This instructor taught the class with pride and encouraged me to pursue teaching secondary math instead of elementary education. Although fearful, I headed this advice and made the switch. This instructor and other instructors mentored me along the way. Upon graduation of college I learned that it was the instructor that made all the difference. From the good instructors I borrowed their teaching strategies and from the bad instructors I learned "what not to do".
My experiences in math compelled me to want to take a stand and empower our youth through math. I had good teachers and bad teachers, as well all have had. However, I realized that if you adapt your teaching to reach your students, rather than expect your students to reach your teaching, you can make an impact. I have taught within all types of conditions. I have seen first-hand the affects of Hurricane Katrina and Rita on the students of the Gulf Coast. I have been offered ‘combat pay’ to teach in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. I have taught as a roving teacher, moving my materials from room-to-room on a daily basis. I have even seen the first-hand affects of forest fires and a tornado. However, within one year at each of my schools I began to make an impact. Like any high school teacher I had trouble engaging my students. I started experimenting in the classroom with innovative and interactive activities to get their attention. This was in the form of pop culture references within my instruction.
It worked! My students were now learning and having fun in class. I even sent out letters to celebrities asking for their endorsement for mathematics. I really found my niche by using elements from pop culture in my classroom. Not only were my students excelling, but their standardized test scores were the second highest in the math department. From this classroom, MatheMagics became alive. Since then it has transformed into an interactive mathematics program. Students across the nation all learn math better with MatheMagics. This program works, it reaches students and stimulates their thinking by incorporating what they like into the curriculum.
I have spoken at numerous conferences regarding MatheMagics including: the Georgia Council Teachers of Mathematics state conference, the Baton Rouge Council of Teachers of Mathematics state conference, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics national conference, and Walden University’s 2010 Research Symposium. I have also received several accolades regarding MatheMagics including: NCTM Conference Attendance for Pre-Service Educators (CAPE) 2005 Award Winner and the Association of Classroom Teachers (East Baton Rouge Endowment) 2004 Award winner.
To find out more about MatheMagics visit: https://sites.google.com/site/trmmathemagics/
My hobbies include playing with my two little girls
Ella Lou (sounds like LSU) and Miley Lyn (named after LSU's Coach Les Miles),
going to LSU football games, watching movies, and crafting for my shop K Cubed.
Feel free to contact me on Facebook or LinkedIn
Ella Lou (sounds like LSU) and Miley Lyn (named after LSU's Coach Les Miles),
going to LSU football games, watching movies, and crafting for my shop K Cubed.
Feel free to contact me on Facebook or LinkedIn
