From meaningful discussions that test your critical thinking to creative experiments science in Mr. Mahamad’s classroom encourages students to ask questions and try to make sense of the world around them. Currently an Earth & Space Science teacher at HSFI Mr. Mahamad combines his own curiosity about how the world works (specifically the natural environment and space) with his passion for working with and helping students look at science past the facts and start questioning the world around them.
To start off his journey as a teacher he earned his college degrees in environmental science and adolescent education from Hunter College. Before coming to HSFI Mr. Mahamad had been teaching science in the Bronx for nearly a decade. Outside of school he enjoys long-distance running, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. He chose to become a part of the HSFI community due to our school’s strong sense of community and student growth focus that had stood out to him. He says “ I was excited by the school’s focus on creativity, real-world skills, and preparing students for life beyond high school. I wanted to be part of a school where students are encouraged to explore their interests while being supported academically and socially.”
When building relationships with students Mr. Mahamad focuses on being approachable, consistent, and genuinely interested in his students’ experiences. He says, “ I try to create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and sharing ideas.” In his lessons he also connects concepts to real-world examples for students to be able to relate and connect their material back to the world around them. His favorite topic to teach is the solar system where he enjoys helping students understand how planets move, how gravity shapes their orbits, and how Earth fits into a much larger system. As stated before Mr. Mahamad loves to encourage students to ask questions and think creatively about the world around them and lessons on the solar system allows these skills to foster in his students. Students also are able to connect science concepts in these lessons to what they observe in the night sky.
HSFI’s Success Skills are an important part of our school and learning community, and Mr. Mahamad is able to incorporate HSFI Success Skills into daily classroom routines and instruction. Students are encouraged to be kind and respectful when working with others, communicate effectively through discussions and written explanations, and work hard when engaging in challenging tasks. Through collaborative labs and problem-based activities, students practice being creative and constructive problem-solvers. He also emphasizes being dependable by holding students accountable for meeting deadlines, staying organized, and supporting their peers.
Mr. Mahamad looks forward to continuing to support his students and to building relationships with more students and colleagues. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to our HSFI community Mr. Mahamad!