Noyce Scholar Profile
Kathryn Crawford
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Biology, Science and Math Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Biology, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Western Kentucky University
Current academic or teaching status:
Junior
School and school district:
Taught 9 lessons in a mix of elementary, middle, and high schools
Background:
I grew up in Somerset, KY and attended Pulaski County High School. I enrolled in Western Kentucky University (WKU) as a biology/pre-med major, but after hearing about the SKyTeach Program, which is specifically designed for math and science majors who are interested in teaching, I decided I would rather teach.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to teach because I feel too often teachers forget to care about and/or actually teach their students. I really want to make a lasting impact in the classroom.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
One of my most memorable teaching experiences occurred the first semester of my freshmen year of college. I was teaching third graders about rapid changes that occur in the environment. The students were split into groups and were given their own ecosystems: a Gladware container with a small cup of water inside along with grass and leaves. In the “pond” lived Swedish fish. In the “forest” lived animal crackers. The students were told to make it rain over the ecosystem (pour water) until it flooded. They then had to observe the changes in their ecosystems and decide what was hurt because of the flood–the animal crackers. They were then asked to tell what was helped because of the flood. This question took them a few minutes, but after a few leading questions, you could see them begin to understand that the fish now had more room to live, so they were helped. Being able to watch them think and understand the concept on their own was a great feeling, and I hope to have many more.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
It has given me access to a valuable group of mentors and future colleagues whom I’m excited to work with and gain insight from.
