BALTIMORE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY

Welcome to the Fifth Grade Team page! Here you can find biographies of our teachers, in addition to information about our curriculum and goals.

ETS French for May
ETS English Language Arts (ELA) for May

Tineka Archer, English Language Arts teacher

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or  410-426-3650 X-139.

Madam Archer began studying French at Henrico High School in Richmond, Va. Inspired by her French teacher, Madame Smith, and her desire to learn the language, she continued my study of French at Virginia Commonwealth University with study abroad in Nantes, France. While living in France, she visited Portugal, travelled through Spain, and shared memorable meals with new found friends in Venice, Italy. Upon graduating with a B.A. in French and minor in African-American Studies, she joined the Peace Corps in 1998.

As a Peace Corps volunteer, she served as a TEFL teacher in the Republic of Guinea, a French-speaking country on the west coast of Africa. During her two-year service, she also had many opportunities to enjoy other parts of Africa, particularly, Senegal, Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Ghana.

At the completion of her Peace Corps service, she received a fellowship to study at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. After graduating with a M.A. in Intercultural Communication in 2003, she began teaching in Baltimore City. “Baltimore City Public Schools offer many opportunities for teachers and students to excel in the classroom which is why I enjoy what I do,” she explained. “My goal is to see our BIA students leave with the knowledge and understanding that one day they will be future ambassadors for the United States.”

Nchinda "Valentine" Fuanghene, Fifth Grade French teacher and Fifth Grade Chair

Contact Mr. Fuanghene at  or  410-426-3650 X-133

Mr. Fuanghene came to Baltimore International Academy in 2008 after teaching chemistry for 11 years at the middle and high school levels in his native Cameroon. He holds a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Buea in Cameroon. “It's an interesting experience, teaching all students French in an English-speaking country,” he said.

Yutaka Houlette, Art Teacher (K-7)

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or  410-426-3650 X-134

Yutaka Houlette has experience working in a variety of art and teaching related jobs in both Japan and America. After studying art at the Maryland Institute College of Art, he moved back to Japan for 18 months to work as a translator and gallery assistant at Yamamoto Gendai, a contemporary art gallery. During this time he also taught English to students ranging from toddlers to college students. Upon returning to Baltimore, Yutaka worked as a freelance editor for the advocacy based non-profit arts organization, Art On Purpose. He now teaches art at BIA to more than 300 K-7 students

Jules Mbami, Fifth Grade French teacher

Contact: Mr. Mbami at  or  410-426-3650 X-133.

Jules MbamiMr. Mbami came to BIA in 2008 after teaching high school level Physics and Math in his native Cameroon for 12 years. He holds a bachelor's in Science in Physics from the University of Yaounde, located in the commercial hub of Cameroon.

Curriculum: The fifth grade curriculum is the same as that which is used in all Baltimore City Public Schools, with the only difference being that it is taught through French. "Some students are really proud," of their ability to speak French, Mr. Mbami said.

Through the process of BIA's applying to be an International Baccalaureate World school, Mr. Fuanghene and Mr. Mbami are working with inquiry-based teaching. They use a transdisciplinary approach and integrate the core subjects’ (Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies) goals into units with IB themes.

Health Education curriculum (K-8) (link)

Goals: The fifth grade team’s goals are for the students to:

* do well on the MSA
* pass the Grand Concours (a national French Language competition)
* develop their curiosity and a love of learning
* be prepared for their next year’s 6th grade curriculum