Mrs. Victoria Soto
Hi, my name is Victoria Soto and this is my seventh year at Reagan High School. I can't believe this is going to be my 13th year of teaching. I am the Spirit Assistant. For the last five years, I was the sponsor of the National Honor Society. If you are looking for the new advisers please contact Christie Gudowski (our librarian) and Mrs. Nessler (Social Studies). This will be my first year teaching On Ramps College Algebra. I am really excited about this course because it brings college level, inquiry-based learning to the classroom in a way that is accessible to all students. I am also a T3 Instructor for Texas Instruments where I get to travel around the country and show other educators how TI calculators are used to INCREASE thought-provoking math & problem solving. I also learn a lot from fellow educators about the latest and greatest in math education. 2022 was an exciting year for me, because after three years of virtual conferences I was able to attend two big conferences in Texas back and in person. The latest pedagogy style for mathematics classrooms is called "Building a Thinking Classroom". I want to invite all parents into this process. Come learn more about it at Meet the Teacher Night later on in September.
My passion is finding ways to close the gaps with all students and my methods of teaching allow for this to happen. After the crazy pandemic years, it's time for some FUN and learning. I'm a firm believer that math only helps students become better critical thinkers which is a soft skill that is needed for them to become contributing and empathetic citizens in our communities. By using IBL (Inquiry Based Learning) and different forms of technology, specifically the TI-Nspire CX handheld and supporting applications like Desmos. I've seen students make tremendous strides in mathematics. The students will experience a different type of learning with a different type of questioning. There will be normal paper/pencil notes days, group work days, but then there will be days where we will discover the math together. I've found when doing this, retention rates are higher and it increases scores on standardized testing.
Students should expect to come into my classroom ready to be an active learner. Students will stand and work at whiteboards all around my classroom. They will communicate their knowledge as well as their misconceptions. They will learn from other students. They will be held accountable for helping their classmates learn. The structure of this class will look different from years past, but I'm excited to try some new ways to implement best practices in the classroom. Students will feel supported & persevere. Strike Time will allow for more one on one or small group time with me. My communication line is always open for students and parents and I look forward to my best years at Reagan.