Welcome/Bienvenidos!
Hello and Peace to you. My name is Tina Sheree Phalen Schumikowski, but you can call me Ms. Schu. I have been a math teacher for 19 years, half of that in middle school. This is my 6th year at Novato High. When I am not teaching: I love to sing and play guitar; create in the kitchen and garden; revel in nature during walks, kayaking and yoga and learn about the world through books, movies and travelling. This year, I will celebrate my 23rd wedding anniversary with my husband Bruce. My oldest son, Jerry, will begin college at UCSD, where he will study Aeronautical Engineering. My younger son, Sean, is a freshman at Petaluma High, this year. This summer we traveled to Tahoe, British Colombia (where we saw Orcas right there in front of our boat (!)) and camping with my parents and lifelong friends at the Eel River. I’m a lover, not a fighter, unless you monkey with my people or use language in a demeaning or ignorant way, then you may get an earful. I can’t stand liars, whiners, people who expect other people to do everything for them or creators of drama (I don’t mean the Shakespeare kind-his stuff I love !).
As a student, I like to be organized and really understand what is going on. However, in school, I tended to rush things, making mistakes that lowered my grade. I prefer a classroom where I can talk about the subject, write down important information and where I don’t have to stay seated the whole time. I loved Dance, Choir and Drama the most in high school, but I got mostly A’s and some B’s in all subjects. I studied how people think, work, communicate and form communities at UCSB, so I guess you could say I find people fascinating. Presently, I am studying to improve my Spanish and learn what the research has to teach us about the human brain.
I was an accelerated math student all through school, excelling at mental calculation and using math to solve real world problems. I am not as good at spatial visualization (what an object may look like from another angle-darn Tetris) or doing problems that require an exact step-by-step. Whereas people always said I was “good at math”, I always felt that all people could get it if they had the right opportunity and worked at it. I learned to teach math with an activity-based, hands-on approach that builds mastery over time and expects and supports ALL students to become mathematical thinkers. I am excited to be part of your journey to build mathematical and communication skills, mental discipline and personal confidence.
Looking forward to a great 2016-2017 school year!!