Welcome to 7th grade social studies! I am so excited to be a part of your Thunder Vista team as we explore human history through the rich, complex, and exciting cultures of the Eastern Hemisphere. This will be my first year in Adams 12 and I am excited to be at Thunder Vista. I have a BA from Pacific Lutheran University where I triple majored in History, Global Studies, and German and a MA in Social Studies Curriculum and Instruction from CU, Boulder. Prior to coming to Adams 12 I was teaching at Fairview High School in Boulder, and before that I taught English in rural Cambodia. Outside of school, I enjoy hiking, playing board games, reading, and hanging out with my family. My goal as a teacher and in this class is to help kids create and back-up their own ideas using facts. I believe the way to that goal is for students to see themselves in the content, making connections between their own experiences and those from around the world and throughout history. When students make those connections they can use them to form their own ideas and opinions while using facts and evidence to support themselves.