Educator Spotlight: Theresa Schrader

Amberlee Cooper, Content Marketing Manager

Meet Theresa Schrader

What grades do you teach, and/or your title/role?

I teach fourth grade math/science. 

What school, district or institution do you work for? Location?

I work in Bethel, Connecticut, at Johnson School. 

Who inspired you to become an educator?

My first grade teacher inspired me at a young age to become a teacher. She made learning fun, helped me when I had trouble reading and always told us the best stories. I still keep in touch with her today! 

What motivates you?

Seeing my students learn to love math motivates me to become a better teacher. I love seeing my students progress throughout a unit and excel by the end of the year.  

What advice would you give to your first-year teacher self?

I have been teaching for 17 years, and my first year of teaching was SO different compared to what it is now. I started off being a reading/writing teacher and then moved to science before teaching both, math and science. I'd tell myself to move to math a lot sooner. ;)

What do you wish more people knew about being an educator?

I am always thinking about my students. When I have a student in my class, they become one of my kids. I worry about them and will always be there for them. Seeing them graduate high school is such an amazing moment. I love when students come back to visit and tell me how successful they are. 

What do you love most about Bridges curriculum/math apps/MLC?

I love the way Bridges math makes me think. After teaching with the Bridges math curriculum, I am amazed to see the students share their number sense and hear their academic language come to life in student discourse. I also love sharing my charts and notes with parents so they can learn the way their child is learning and help them on homework. 

What do you love most about working with students? 

I love getting to know my students. I love students who lose their fear of math during my class. 

What’s your math story? In other words, how do you feel about math and why? 

I love teaching math. I love seeing the patterns and knowing there is more than one way to get to the same answer. I love hearing how people choose their strategy and why they chose the strategy. 

If you would like to nominate an educator to be highlighted, please email justinf@mathlearningcenter.org.

Image of Theresa Schrader