Noyce Scholar Profile
Samantha MacGregor
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Middle Childhood Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Science, Language Arts, grades 4-9
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Rio Grande
Current academic or teaching status:
4th year
School and school district:
Gallia Academy Middle School
Background:
I grew up in Albany, Ohio and graduated from Alexander High School in 2008. While I was a senior in high school, I was in Teachers Academy where I did many field experience hours. While at the University of Rio Grande, I have done many observation hours and taught mini lessons as well as thematic units at Alexander, Wellston and Gallia Academy Middle Schools. I am the Event Chair for the university’s Relay for Life where I started the first ever Relay in the town. I have been a Resident Assistant in the freshmen dorm for three years. I am also actively involved in my sorority Zeta Theta Chi where I participate in many community service projects. I have always had a big place in my heart for teaching and want to become the best teacher I can be.
Why do you want to teach:
I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. My interest peaked as I got older, and I became inspired by my favorite teachers. These teachers always tried to establish a close rapport with all their students not only by motivating us to try our best in the classroom, but also by being a role model outside the classroom. This experience made me realize that I wanted to be a caring, thoughtful, and enlightened teacher just like the ones who taught me. I have a strong interest in teaching science because as students enter Middle School they are nervous about learning science if they are not exposed to the subject much in elementary school. By making science less intimidating and more engaging, I will rectify their nervousness. I would like to make little scientists out of all of my students.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
My most memorable teaching experience so far has been during my Junior field experience. I was teaching a lesson on writing Greek myths. All of the students, except one, were doing fine with their writing pieces. This young man was really discouraged; my master teacher told me that he always had trouble writing. I took the student aside and made a graphic organizer and helped him to organize his ideas. It turned out that the student had many wonderful ideas, but he had trouble sorting them out in his head. After we wrote all of his ideas down, he went to write his myth. The next day he ran into the classroom with a huge smile on his face asking me to read his myth. It was very good; my master teacher said it was the best piece of writing that he had written all year. The smile on this student’s face was the most rewarding thing a teacher could ask for.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has given me the opportunity to meet other people who share my interest in teaching science. The program has also given me the opportunity to be able to communicate and collaborate with other students. Through the online communication I can improve professionally as a teacher and get many new ideas from my fellow Noyce Scholars. The Noyce program has also given me financial support for my educational experience. This scholarship has given me a sense of accomplishment which motivates me to continue working hard.
