Noyce Scholar Profile
Kathryn Denslow
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Biology
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 6-8
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
Boston University
Current academic or teaching status:
2nd year 6th grade math teacher
School and school district:
Roxbury Preparatory Charter School, Boston, MA
Background:
I got my Bachelor’s degree from Carleton College. It is a small liberal arts college in Northfield MN. From there, I went to China to teach English for a year. I returned to the states and joined the Noyce Scholarship program at Boston University. I am currently teaching 6th grade Math Procedures at Roxbury Preparatory Charter School. It is a college preparatory middle school that has a strong focus on Math and English.
Why do you want to teach:
There are many reasons why I want to teach, but the two biggest reasons are because of the students and the constant challenge. I enjoy children and the way they view the world. I also love how teaching is ever changing. Every day is different and filled with new challenges and obstacles.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
My whole first year of teaching pretty much stands out in my mind because it was so new and scary and exciting and tiring all at the same time. If I had to pick one moment, I would choose the day I first taught order of operations. The students were fascinated by the fact that you could get different answers for the same expression. They also felt more like mathematicians once they learned the rules for solving expressions. They didn’t want to leave when the period was over because they thought math was fun and enjoyed solving expressions. That experience really proved to me that children love to learn, and they are always eager to learn new things.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program really prepared me for teaching mathematics. I went into the classroom feeling confident in my abilities. I also felt I had an understanding of what to expect. It also gave me a support network that I could turn to for help or advice.
