Noyce Scholar Profile
Matthew Timm
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Elementary Education(Special Education)
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: 2nd grade (Reading, Math, Writing, Science, Social Studies)
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Master Teaching Fellowship
Current academic or teaching status:
2nd Grade, 10 years teaching experience
School and school district:
Belvedere Elementary, Omaha Public Schools
Background:
I grew up in Omaha, attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, took a year off to teach in Peshawar, Pakistan, and then started teaching in Omaha Public Schools in 2003.
Why do you want to teach:
I volunteered at Belvedere in my senior year of high school. I decided to teach because I loved working with the children.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
A couple of years ago in Math class we were doing an exercise to develop understanding of a pattern of making tens to find teen totals. The pattern went as such 7 + 4 = 7 + 3 +1 = 10 +1 = 11, then 7 + 7 = 7 + 3 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14. We did the same thing with 7 + 5 and so on. For awhile many children did not understand what was happening but we continued to look at the patterns. Then one morning Tyana’s eyes lit up and she shouted out “I get it, we are making tens.” She popped up and explained the pattern to her classmates. Many of them understood the pattern for the first time. It was a great teaching moment.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
I am honored to be selected. Math in the Middle was such a good experience for me. I am excited to be awarded a chance to grow both mathematically and professionally.
