Welcome to our class! I am very happy to be at Lakeside Middle School and to have the chance to work with such great students.
I have a long history with LMS. Not only did I go to school here, but I also completed my student teaching here many years ago. I then spent several years in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. I then taught science at an online high school. I returned to Lakeside Middle School and I am very happy to be back teaching science and engineering.
In my spare time I am usually at the building random things in my home shop, going to the gym, learning new things to use in class, traveling, or, on the rare occasion, relaxing at home. My son is a lieutenant in the United States Air Force Academy and is attending grad school for computer science. (Quantum Algorithms). My daughter was teaching and has now become a full time stay-at-home mom with my granddaughter and, soon-to-arrive, grandson.
I am really looking forward to this year! I have some exciting learning planned and I am looking forward to working with a great group of students. My classes will be an exciting, challenging, and an innovative learning environment.
This year will be a great one!!!
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at:
Feel free to follow me on Instagram @mendozaweb
Each student will need the following everyday:
A pen/pencil
Charged Chromebook
****Optional, but helpful:
Colored pens (gel markers or fine point)
Highlighter
Book marker (paper binder or marker)
Here are some pictures of a few things I like to do...
Our science programs at Lakeside Middle teach to the Next Generation Science Standards. Through these rigorous standards students experience 3 dimensional learning of Science and Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas, which gives students a deep understanding of science. Learning Science and Engineering Practices gives students the opportunity to develop their science investigation and engineering problem solving skills. Making connections with the Crosscutting Concepts across all domains of science. Finally the Disciplinary Core Ideas give students the science discipline in all science fields, physical, life, earth, and engineering sciences.
In addition to the Next Gen. Science Standards, Lakeside Middle offers immersed science programs of Agriculture, Future Farmers of America, and Project Lead the Way.
Project Lead Way is an engaging, hands-on learning environment that empowers students to develop engineering skills in real-world applications. The Project Lead The Way Gateway program at Lakeside Middle offers a series of classes through science from 6th grade to 8th grade. The programs include:
6th - Automation and Robotics, where students explore mechanical engineering, energy transfer, and coding in robotics.
7th - Design and Modeling and allows students to engage in the design process, use computer aided design, and 3D modeling.
8th - Flight and Space, where students learn about the forces of motion through flight, design and test flying machines, and code robots mimicking the Mars rover.
All programs have science, engineering, and technology at their core. We are also working to expand the Project Lead The Way Program to include Computer Science.
Both Santana and El Capitan have Project Lead The Way programs that students can continue to pursue at the next level. Many of our former PLTW students have completed the award winning Project Lead The Program at Santana and have entered the engineering program at San Diego State University through their partner program.
Quick View Upcoming Week Plan