- Hill Middle School
- Welcome
About Teacher
Phone:
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
University of Texas San Antonio
Ms. Melinda Castano
I have been teaching in North East ISD for my entire teaching career beginning in 2003-2004 school year! Why teach anywhere else but the BEST district on Earth????
I love to teach and wouldn't change it for the world. Since I was at St. Gerard Elementary, east side of San Antonio, I knew I always loved math. My dad was actually the person who fostered my love of math. He would show me how to build things made out of wood in the garage, birdhouses, stilts, model boats, etc. Seeing him use angles, fractions, and problem solving skills was so amazing to me. He also sat me at the table when he was paying bills. He would start with the amount of his paycheck, add up all the bills, and subtract the total from his paycheck. He did everything by hand! Lined up the decimals, carried, borrowed, and at the end of it, he would show me how much we were able to save and spend. Along with loving math, I also knew that I could explain it to my friends so that they could understand. So although I first attended UT Austin to study Engineering, there was a greater calling for me to teach children to love Math! So I completed my Bachelor degree at UTSA to become a math teacher. I always strive to teach Math in such a way that students think of it as easy, what better way to begin to love it?
In my classroom, we celebrate mistakes! "Making mistakes in math class is like sweating in basketball. It is a part of the process and a sure sign of being in the game." I don't know whose quote this is, but it resonates with me. If you try and put in effort, you will make mistakes! Those who don't put in effort won't make mistakes, and are also not learning. If you are playing basketball, you will break a sweat. Those who aren't sweating at all are not really playing, and not getting better.
This year, I will be making mistakes as well! So please let me know about my mistakes, and how to improve them! Please show me and all of your teachers some grace and forgive us for not being perfect. We really are all in this together. Now is the time to remain calm, yet vigilant. We are all building character and resilience right now. We've got this! We can conquer this!
My whole family lives here in San Antonio, so you will hear me talk about them a lot. I have two of the best little four-legged friends in the world! Sophie and Samson are my two rescue terrier mutts that make me go home on time each day from work :)
Students, thank you for letting me be your teacher. I hope I can meet your needs this year. If I can do something better, just let me know and I will do my best to make sure all of your needs are met. Parents, thank you for being your child's advocate. Sometimes they may not speak up to ask a question, I really need you to help me help them.