Noyce Scholar Profile
Jennifer Rogowicz
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: B.S., Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Boston University
Current academic or teaching status:
Year 2
School and school district:
Malden High School, Malden, MA
Background:
I grew up right outside of Boston. I originally went to college to become a physical therapist, but decided to change my major to math because I had a desire to teach math in a way I never learned. I always loved the subject, but I had many boring teachers along the way. My family did not like the idea of me becoming a teacher, because of the low pay. When I graduated from Bridgewater State College with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics, I then enrolled at Boston University to get my MAT in Mathematics.
Why do you want to teach:
I enjoy teaching the standard classes of Algebra 2 and Geometry. I find myself to be more effective with the weaker student rather than the honors student. I enjoy teaching students who need my help the most in order to become independent learners. The majority of honor students have the ability to do the work on their own with little guidance, where many lower level students need the teacher to scaffold the material to make it more accessible to learn. This challenge of making students feel successful with engaging and age appropriate activities is why I became a teacher.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
My most memorable teaching experience came this year, when a student who has a severe math learning disability was able to gain confidence in her ability to learn math concepts. Previously she had failed math two years in a row. This first quarter, with much effort, she received a B- in the course and a C on her quarter final. She has stayed after school every day in order to review material discussed in class, build on her academic language, work on summarizing verbally and in writing what we had learned, and do test corrections. She stopped by my room to thank me for all the effort I had put into staying with her and how I helped her gain confidence in the fact she can do well in math and succeed.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has prepared me to teach students who are overcoming some hard circumstances and to gain a deep understanding of mathematics. It taught me to avoid procedural and skill based learning and how to enter into deep conversations with students about topics. I know they understand by holding every student accountable by asking them through their ability to explain and write their thinking process. It also taught me how to hold students to a high standard of thinking by using many scaffolding methods to aid their learning process. I know that the majority of students can learn math if we push them hard enough and make it an engaging experience.
