Noyce Scholar Profile
Natasha Rezende
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Hofstra University
Current academic or teaching status:
Senior
School and school district:
Uniondale, New York
Background:
I was born in Brazil and moved to the United States in the second grade. I went through the public school ESL program and became proficient in English by the fifth grade. I have always loved math. At Hofstra I am treasurer of the Math Honor Society Pi Mu Epsilon as well as a member of Golden Key International Honor Society.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to teach because I feel that I can really make a difference. I think math is a difficult subject to cultivate the love of learning within the students and I am ready for that challenge. This country is in need of math teachers who are willing to take different approaches to reach a larger number of students and I know that I can do that.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I have yet to begin teaching in a classroom but I always find a memorable experience when I am tutoring is that moment when you can see it in the student’s eyes that everything is clicking. When you can see that they are making the bigger connections and that change from frustration to comprehension is priceless. I look forward to seeing much more of that.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce Program has meant so much to me. It has really given me more support within my college by knowing the faculty well as well as all of the great learning opportunities. This summer we had a Summer Institute with a guest speaker that gave us one on one feedback regarding out teaching. Attending the Conference in Washington this summer was also a great learning experience. Knowing that I have all of this support going into student teaching and then my first year working as a teacher really means the most to me as a Noyce Scholar.
