Why did you decide to become a teacher?

I have always wanted to be a teacher. It is great to feel like you are making a difference each day. I love the idea of helping the students reach their full potential. I know that I made the right decision as I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

What has been your most memorable moment as a teacher?

There are a number of memorable moments that I have experienced over the past 20 years, however, I try to make a new one each day. The best feeling is when I try to explain a new concept to a student who is struggling, and then all of a sudden I see their face light up and they state, “Oh, now I get it!” I live for those moments!

What is your favorite part of Future Goals and how are you using it in your classroom?

I love everything about the program. The videos in Future Goals are fantastic. In addition, the interactive game that follows allows the students to practice what they have learned in fun and authentic ways. Lastly, the multiple choice quiz checks to see if they have mastered the skill or not. I especially like the fact that they can go back and redo the module to improve their score and get a minimum of 70%, which is needed in order to “win” the Stanley Cup! This offers the student an opportunity to learn from his or her mistakes and demonstrate persistence, and to take responsibility for his or her own learning. The students who completed the whole program were very excited when they received a certificate in the end, which provided them with the satisfaction of accomplishment.

What was your student’s reaction to the program?

They have all enjoyed completing the activities, and they didn’t need a background in hockey to do it either. In fact, a few of them mentioned that they didn’t realize how much math and science was involved in hockey. One of my students stated, “ I loved doing the NHL math and science, and it gave me a nice challenge. I loved how relevant it is to a sport, as I like sports as well as math and science, so it is tying together three things I love!”

Who is your favorite hockey player?

My favourite player is Brady Tkachuk. He brings so much energy and excitement to the game. I love that he is willing to go to the net and use a lot of grit and determination to score his goals. I think that he is an excellent role model for young children as he never takes a night off!