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The biggest surprise, Grentz said, is how long
it takes to plan a lesson.
"Students don't want to just hear a lecture just
like we didn't want to when we were kids. They
want to have some fun, and I'm trying to focus
on presenting geometry in ways they find
relevant and somewhat exciting," he said..
But it takes a load of
creativity for even experienced teachers to make
postulates and theorems fascinating to 14- and
15-year-olds, which is why Grentz is soaking up
advice from veteran teachers at his school.
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Engineer leaves career to teach
geometry
October 11 by Susanne Tso
Tony Grentz is among a new breed of teachers - idealistic professionals who
walk away from lucrative careers to make a difference in the classroom.
Grentz, formerly an electrical engineer, is angling his way through his
first year of teaching geometry to Horizon Honors High School freshmen and
sophomores.
Not long ago, he was working as a laboratory researcher for the Cognitive
Engineering Research Institute, a not-for-profit research institute in Mesa
that creates spin-off high-technology businesses and jobs.
"I wanted to do something more fulfilling and have more personal contact
with people," explained Grentz, who is serving a two-year internship at
Horizon through Rio Salado College's post-baccalaureate teacher-in-residence
program. "I've always loved teaching and tutoring kids and I wanted them to
understand how math works in real life."
Although Grentz said he's enjoying the classroom experience, it's not
without challenge.
"I've had a larger learning curve than I anticipated," he said. "I thought
I'd come in and change the world, and it's a lot more work and a lot harder
than I thought it would be."
"The staff has been very supportive. I started the school year with a lot of
recommendations from teachers and I found what worked and didn't work and
added some of my own ideas," he said.
Foremost among his teaching goals is a desire to help his students see how
math works in real life.
"Geometry is radically different from the math they've had before this, and
I like it when they really get a concept. I see them trying and when they
finally get that breakthrough they get excited and giddy and that's pretty
rewarding," he said.
Meanwhile, Grentz continues to learn a few new things, too.
"I'm learning patience and I'm trying not to be so hard on myself," he said.
Susanne Tso is a freelance writing living in Ahwatukee Foothills. You can
contact her at sctso@fastq.com
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