Mrs. Jennifer Barreto
Education:
B.S. Biology, University of Massachusetts
MST Zoology, University of Florida
Teaching Experience:
· 1 year teaching Biology & General Science, Chicopee High School, MA
· 5 years teaching undergraduate Biology I & II Lab, discussion, University of Florida
· 1 year teaching Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Miami-Dade Community College
· 2 years teaching Biology and Anatomy, Palmer Trinity School, Miami
· 1.5 years teaching Pre-IB & Honors Biology, Coral Reef Sr. High
My philosophy as a teacher … PLEASE READ!!!…
I believe that students have amazing capacity to learn, and I hold my students to very high standards. As a primarily 9th & 10th grade teacher, I spend a huge amount of time teaching my students methods to be as successful as possible. This includes study techniques, note-taking, and most importantly, writing skills. These skills are tools that they will need to be successful throughout the rest of their career as a student, and will serve them well into their postgraduate endeavors.
In my classes, I require students to actually THINK, not just memorize information and then regurgitate the “right” answers on a test. In life, most tasks are not tests of memorized information and scantron bubble sheets. In this world, information moves at the speed of light, there are new discoveries all the time, and there is not always a right answer. If students do not know how to research and learn independently, what will they do when they need to make a decision for themselves? For this reason, LABS (and lab reports) are worth more in the class grading scale than tests. Students must learn to investigate and process information (critical thinking), then communicate their ideas in writing.
On the topic of grades, many students (and their parents) are disappointed to find that the study techniques used in middle school do not automatically result in the same kind of grades earned in middle school. This makes sense. In high school, we expect higher level learning. The transition to higher level learning requires a revamping of the study process, which we do work on in class. Many students believe that simply working hard -- though not necessarily doing excellent work -- entitles them to an A. I fairly evaluate my students, where “A” work is defined as exceptionally independent and excellent quality, while “B” indicates above average work, etc. Not everyone will receive an A on every assignment, and that is good, as it helps the students learn how to improve. Please keep in mind the actual goal of education, which is to actually learn and grow. Obsessing over the letter grades impairs students from focusing on what it takes to be successful. We need to foster a good work ethic in our students so that they can always do their personal best and realize how to work best with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Our students must become experienced and adept at critical thinking and problem solving... They must be able to communicate well... They must become sensitive and committed to the human side of progress and change... They must be aware of the global environment they share and be able to work with diverse people. -- Graham Spanier, President of Pennsylvania State University.
On a personal note…
Dancing is my other passion. I also sponsor the SALSA CLUB at CRHS, which performs at school functions. In my free time (ok, actually my sacrificed sleep time) I am also a professional salsa dancer for Salsa Heatwave Dance Studios.