Noyce Scholar Profile
Sylvia Hernandez
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Campus
Current academic or teaching status:
Secondary Math teacher, 16 years of experience
School and school district:
Juan Suarez Pelegrina High School, Aguadilla District
Background:
I have been teaching math for about 16 years, at the junior high and high school levels. I always take professional development courses where I have learned about effective practices and strategies that maintain the students focus on their work and their interest in math. I won the Presidential Award in 2005 by using some of these strategies. I design workshops for my district and share my knowledge with peers. I have a math club in my school and integrate environmental issues as a class discussion.
Why do you want to teach:
Teaching is a perfect way to make the students change their vision of life. If they learn how to appreciate math, they will enjoy the math class, and they can challenge themselves to make a career in math.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
When I use Origami, my students engage in a deep learning and enjoy discovering theorems and relationships. Their knowledge of math concepts really rises when they learn using puzzles, tangrams and manipulatives.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce Program is a special tool that I need to acquire mayor skills. It’s helping to transform my teaching styles, which I can use to develop more effective strategies to simplify the study of math. Then I can share the things I have learned with my peers.
