Noyce Scholar Profile
Dennis Wilson
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Middle Childhood Mathematics and Science
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics and Science, grades 4-9
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
SEOCEMS Noyce Scholars Program at Ohio University Zanesville
Current academic or teaching status:
Junior year
School and school district:
Observing at Grover Cleveland Middle School, Zanesville, Ohio
Background:
I have done a variety of work in factories and construction since I graduated from high school. After high school, I tried a few programs at a community college, but nothing seemed to fit me. It wasn’t until about three years ago that I realized I wanted to go back to college and become a teacher.
Why do you want to teach:
There are many reasons I want to teach as I am sure there is an array of reasons why we all want to teach. Most importantly, I feel that it is the most absolute, worthwhile career someone could choose. Without teachers or education, our society would be in a lot of trouble. I am looking forward to the opportunity of having a chance to give some young adolescents some guidance that I feel I never received when I was that age. I feel it will be the most effective way to give back to society, while having a career.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I have already had a few memorable experiences during my brief career as a student teacher. I have taught quite a few lessons in the past year. During the first math lesson I ever taught, I helped some students understand the coordinate plane. It was a 7th grade math class. They had some experience with the topic, but a few seemed lost when I was teaching the lesson. I took a few steps back and broke down the coordinate plane into two number lines. The students got a better understanding of the basics of it and were better able to go on to the rest of the lesson. I look forward to many more of these “aha moments.” I don’t think there will be anything more gratifying than these in my teaching career.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has meant an opportunity to see that there are many other students in my situation. There is a combination of three Universities in our regional Noyce network, and I have had the opportunity to meet these Noyce scholars. Through our online network, I have been able to communicate with these people and see that there are other students who may have had some trouble with classroom management or some of the same questions as myself. It has also proved valuable to get advice and see other perspectives on various topics. I feel very lucky and privileged to be a part of this community. I am now looking forward to being a part of this national network and am excited to see what I can gain from it.
