Hi! I’m Erin. I teach high school physics at Oakland International High School (OIHS) in Oakland, California. I serve a population of all newcomer students (over 30 languages spoken at my school), with many of my students arriving to the United States within the past 3 years.

Teaching in the Bronx, New Jersey and now in Oakland, I have had the opportunity to make more, and to teach my students the fun that making can be! In class, I take everyday things (junk to most, I’m sure), and my students use it in different ways to build flashlights, roller coasters, and more. I love being able to involve the making and tinkering with materials at the beginning and end of every unit. I'm also a believer in the thinking routines that come with making and giving students the agency to learn; allowing for students to come to their own conclusions and build their own ideas. I also find it gives students a different type of ownership and sense of purpose within my classroom.

Prior to the spring of 2018, I had little knowledge about the Maker Movement or incorporating making into my classroom. From the SSU Maker Certificate Program, I'm looking to take more ideas and knowledge from the Maker Movement back into my classroom and daily routines with students.

Outside of education, I'm an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast. I enjoy running, and I've run 6 marathons and over two dozen half marathons.