Noyce Scholar Profile
Andrew Grismore
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Civil Engineering, Math Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 6-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Purdue University
Current academic or teaching status:
Fifth Year
School and school district:
Purdue Block Experience - Study Abroad (Honduras), Tippecanoe School Corporation
Background:
I am a double major in Civil Engineering and Mathematics Education. I started college majoring in Civil Engineering, but after my sophomore year decided to add mathematics education. I have had the chance to go to Honduras on a Study Abroad trip and was able to teach math in an English speaking school there, which was a great experience. I have also had the chance to volunteer with the Junior High ministry at the church I attend. It is great to be able to be able to work with students before I go out and teach.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to teach because of the impact that teachers have on their students. I want to give my students an appreciation for math. I know not all students will like the subject, but I want them to understand its importance and to be able to see how it is applied in everyday life and to specific careers. I also want to impact my students’ lives in other ways outside of school, influencing work ethic, patience, and other skills that are essential to succeeding and becoming a better person.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
One of the most memorable experiences I have had in teaching was on my Honduras Study Abroad trip. I was there towards the end of the year, and the students were getting ready for their end-of-the-year exams. I was given about four students who needed help with their math and physics so they could pass the test. There was one student who I worked with a lot, and we had to go to the beginning of the semester until we got to material that he already knew. In less than two weeks, we worked together and got him ready for the exam, which he passed. I learned a lot in those two weeks on how to teach, how to relate, and how to motivate students to be able to accomplish what they can.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce Program has allowed me to be able to focus on my studies and not have to worry about paying for school. Double majoring forces me to take a big load each semester, but the scholarship allows me to be able to focus primarily on my school work and not have to worry about how I am going to have to pay for the schooling that I am getting.
