Noyce Scholar Profile
Mallory Earich
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Natural Science - Education (Integrated Sciences)
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Integrated Sciences, grades 7-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
SEOCEMS Noyce Scholars Program at Shawnee State University
Current academic or teaching status:
Senior
School and school district:
N/A
Background:
I am currently attending Shawnee State University (SSU) and working on a degree in Natural Science with teacher licensure in AYA Integrated Sciences grades 7-12. I am excited to finally be a senior at SSU and can’t wait to graduate in December 2011 and begin the search for my first teaching job.
Why do you want to teach:
Coming from a family of educators, the education profession is something I grew up with and was surrounded by, not only as a student, but also in the family setting. Being surrounded by an educational atmosphere and an agricultural sciences background led me to develop my current passion to become a science teacher. My mom was a 4th grade teacher, and my dad was a cattle farmer, as well as an employee for Nationwide Agri-business. They greatly influenced me in deciding my career choice and developing my passion for science education. I also love working with middle and high school aged students and enjoying being able to teach them something new. I want to be able teach students valuable knowledge that will allow them to succeed in life, as well as help each one develop an interest and appreciation for the science that surrounds them every day.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
As a pre-service teacher, I have only had the opportunity to teach lessons to students through classes that require field placements. During the experiences that I have had so far, I would have to say that the most memorable teaching moments were being able to finally reach students and truly get them motivated and excited to learn. I have found that this task can be very hard to achieve at times, and it is very exciting when you finally get students excited about learning and really hook them into learning certain concepts. It is also a memorable teaching moment when you are able to help students to see the relevance of what they are learning in class to their own lives. I also find it memorable when a student who has struggled with a concept finally gets it and the concept clicks for them. They are able to have that feeling of finally achieving success.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
Being a part of the Noyce Scholar Program has been a very rewarding for me. It is really great to be a part of a network of teachers and teacher candidates. I find it very valuable to have the connections to current teachers and other future teachers. The discussions and journal entries posted through the network allow me to read about other teacher candidates’ experiences and thoughts regarding their educational experiences. It is nice to see that there are others out there who sometimes go through the same things as I do. I love being able to get in touch with other teachers and receive outside perspectives on my personal teaching experiences, as well as receive advice when I need it. It is also a great means of support that is not only helpful now, but will continue to be there for me once I become a teacher.
