My name is Hannah Starbuck and I am currently in my eighth year of teaching mathematics. I began my teaching career in August of 2014, when I started working at a public, project-based charter school in Durango, Colorado. Though my education upbringing was mostly traditional, I was heavily influenced by the project-based learning approach that my first school so fiercely believed in. Though learning the ropes of project based learning was a bit complicated and unfamiliar at first, I really appreciate its holistic and creative approach and am incredibly grateful to have been introduced to it as a new teacher.
After 4 wonderful years of teaching in a true project based learning environment, I decided it was time to live and teach abroad for the first time. I was extremely fortunate to land at a school in the Swiss Alps, in a small, cozy French speaking village called Leysin. It was there that I was introduced to the IB curriculum and the rigor that it demands of its students and teachers as well. I learned the ropes of IB mathematics including Internal Assessments, Extended Essays, Higher Level courses and true test preparation. Though teaching to a test is not my preference in the classroom, I can appreciate the process because taking tests is somewhat of a life skill. I was able to collaborate with the Director of Educational Research on certain professional development and publish an article on Modern Mathematics classrooms as well as brush up on some old math concepts that I had forgotten about.
After 3 great years in Switzerland, I decided to move again and be slightly closer to my family in the United States. I am currently living in Quito, Ecuador and very much enjoying my time here. I am working towards becoming fluent in Spanish and learning a lot about Ecuadorian culture. I have energetic and fun students and have had many great opportunities to implement projects that I think my students will like. This has been a great place to express some of my creativity in the classroom and has also allowed me to experiment with different projects and activities.
After 4 wonderful years of teaching in a true project based learning environment, I decided it was time to live and teach abroad for the first time. I was extremely fortunate to land at a school in the Swiss Alps, in a small, cozy French speaking village called Leysin. It was there that I was introduced to the IB curriculum and the rigor that it demands of its students and teachers as well. I learned the ropes of IB mathematics including Internal Assessments, Extended Essays, Higher Level courses and true test preparation. Though teaching to a test is not my preference in the classroom, I can appreciate the process because taking tests is somewhat of a life skill. I was able to collaborate with the Director of Educational Research on certain professional development and publish an article on Modern Mathematics classrooms as well as brush up on some old math concepts that I had forgotten about.
After 3 great years in Switzerland, I decided to move again and be slightly closer to my family in the United States. I am currently living in Quito, Ecuador and very much enjoying my time here. I am working towards becoming fluent in Spanish and learning a lot about Ecuadorian culture. I have energetic and fun students and have had many great opportunities to implement projects that I think my students will like. This has been a great place to express some of my creativity in the classroom and has also allowed me to experiment with different projects and activities.