DSHA High School - mathematics

Department Philosophy

The philosophy of the Mathematics Department is an echo of the school’s philosophy. Our primary purpose is to educate young women in mathematics and to challenge them to do the best they can, according to their abilities.

General Course Goals

The goals of the Mathematics Department are to develop and refine in the students an ability for problem-solving by means of a discovery method, and to equip each student with sufficient mathematical skills so that she has the freedom to pursue the college curriculum and/or career of her choice. The use of technology is integrated into course work.

Faculty

Mrs. Deb Mueller, Department Chair
BA in education - University of Akron
MA in education - University of Louisville
Certification in secondary mathematics and biology
33 years teaching experience, 14 years at DSHA

Mr. Chris Alvin
BA in computer science and mathematics - Ripon College
MS in computer science - UW-Madison
Certification in mathematics in computer science
Concentration in pre-calculus, mathematics, and software engineering
3 years teaching experience, 2 years at DSHA

Mrs. Jean Schmidt Andreski DSHA'80
BS biomedical engineering, mathematics minor - Marquette University
Certification in Secondary Mathematics
4 years teaching experience, 4 years at DSHA

Mrs. Dawn Gardner
BS in mathematics education - Winona State University
Certification in math
12 years teaching experience, 11 years at DSHA

Mrs. Rebecca Holl
BS in mathematics-secondary education - UW Platteville
MS in mathematics education - Marquette University
Certification in mathematics
8 years teaching experience, 8 years at DSHA

Mrs. Pamela Jankowski
B.A. in Mathematics - Gettysburg College
M.A. in Education with a concentration in Mathematics - Beaver College
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin Teaching Certifications
10 years teaching experience, 1st year at DSHA

Ms. Nancy True
BS in mathematics secondary education - University of Minnesota
Certification in secondary mathematics
21 years teaching experience, 2nd year at DSHA

Mrs. Diane Wycklendt
BSE in business education - UW-Whitewater
MST in teaching - UW-Whitewater
Certification in secondary mathematics and business education (7-12)
27 years teaching experience, 9 years at DSHA

Course Sequence
Freshman	Sophomore	Junior	Senior
Algebra Ib	Plane Geometry	Algebra IIb	Advanced Math Topics
Algebra Ia	Geometry	Algebra IIa	Trigonometry/PreCalculus
Honors I (Algebra II)	Honors II (Geometry)	Honors III (Trig/PreCalc)	AP Calculus or Honors IV (Calculus)

Honors Program
Honors courses are designed for those students with exceptional math ability. Mathematical topics normally studied will be pursued in greater depth and at an accelerated pace in the Honors Program. The senior honors offering is calculus. A senior also has the option of taking AP Calculus, possibly earning college credit.

Ten Proven Strategies for Teaching Girls
in the Mathematics Classroom
1.    Connect mathematics, science, and technology to the real world.
2.    Choose metaphors carefully and have students develop their own.
3.    Foster an atmosphere of true collaboration.
4.    Encourage girls to act as experts.
5.    Give girls the opportunity to be in control of technology.
6.    Portray technology as a way to solve problems as well
        as a plaything.
7.    Capitalize on girls’ verbal strengths.
8.    Experiment with testing and evaluation.
9.    Give frequent feedback and keep expectations high.
10.   Experiment with note-taking techniques

-Adapted from a study done by the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools, written by Ann Pollina in the September 1995 Educational Leadership publication

Members of the DSHA Mathematics faculty are very sensitive to
the unique opportunities available at an all-girls school, and we
incorporate these strategies into our classroom teaching.

For more information, contact:

Mrs. Deb Mueller, Department Chair

414-462-3742, ext. 2904

Mueller01@dsha.k12.wi.us