Interactive Math- Teachers Honor Teachers
- Ariana Sanders, History Teacher, Wyoming High School
Mrs. Nichole Bruce uses the flipped classroom model to teach algebra, statistics, and MMR (Math, Modeling and Reasoning) at Lakota East High School in Liberty Township, a suburb of Cincinnati.
“Mrs. Bruce reimagines math class! Project based learning, guest speakers, incorporating food, recorded lessons, data collection - she engages students in unique ways.”
-Ariana Sanders
As a history teacher, I’ve been afraid of math classrooms my entire academic life. I strongly believe if I had had Mrs. Nichole Bruce in high school that might be different. She makes math interactive, meets every student where they are, and understands that building relationships is key to success. I have had the pleasure of knowing Mrs. Bruce my entire teaching career. She taught at the middle school where I began teaching, we both moved to the high school, and now, even though I teach in another district, she is still a good friend and teacher mentor.
Nichole Bruce designs hands-on lessons to engage students in mathematics lessons. Seniors spend their last day of class in Cola Wars — finding binomial probability through a taste test experiment — Coke vs. Pepsi.
When we met in 2015, Mrs. Bruce’s math class was a flipped classroom and pace was based on mastery. Before it became a popular trend, she prepped and posted all her math materials online so students could work at their own pace - whether they were completing units ahead of or behind their classmates. Today, you can often find Mrs. Bruce’s students up and moving around the room (and even the school!) working on classroom redesign projects or learning Google Sheets from the media center staff to use in math class.
Mrs. Bruce has said yes to any challenge presented to her. This includes teaching credit recovery math and starting two new courses at her high school. One of those classes, MMR (Math, Modeling, and Reasoning), didn’t even exist in Ohio. She was a pilot teacher in that program, and she still teaches it today. Her classes are engaging, hands-on, and practical. In a unit where students work on buying a house, she invites a real estate agent to visit her class. Imagine… a guest speaker in math class! One of my favorite lessons that she teaches is called: “Do Double Stuff cookies really have double the filling?” Students use mean and standard deviation to determine!
"Nichole Bruce is an absolute rock star here at Lakota East High School,” says Principal Rob Burnside.
In addition to her classroom duties, Mrs. Bruce is a great supporter of the school and has always served students through clubs or activities. She has worked with cheer and student government and now plans homecoming, spirit week, prom, and graduation. You can often find Mrs. Bruce at a basketball game or outside watching some of her students play baseball.
Lakota East High School wouldn’t be the same without Nichole Bruce; and I know I wouldn’t be either!
Teachers Honor Teachers
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation launched a new program in fall 2022 inviting teachers to recognize a colleague they know is doing exceptional work in the classroom.
In the above post, Ariana Sanders expresses her admiration for fellow teacher, Nichole Bruce. Thank you to both educators for your dedication to students and for taking the time to showcase what it means to deliver challenging, innovative, and student-centered lessons that result in powerful and deep learning.
Through the Teachers Honor Teachers Program, The Foundation is seeking Ohio public school teachers to share great things about a teaching colleague in an Ohio public school that ensures deep learning for students. If we choose to post your story, we will award $500 toward that teacher's classroom for their great work and $500 toward your classroom for honoring their excellence. Apply here.