About Me
My name is Matt Nelson. I am originally from New Prague Minnesota where I grew up and went to high school. My favorite classes were always the biology and science courses since I had always enjoyed learning and reading about science from a young age. After graduation I got accepted into the University of Minnesota - Duluth where I pursued a Bachelors of Science degree in biology. After a short look at the world of veterinary school I decided that it wasn't for me and quickly began to pursue my other love which had always been teaching. I moved back to New Prague and accepted a few positions that were within the school district. I was both a substitute paraprofessional in the Jordan school district and a summer associate at a program for kids called Kid's Company. Both of these jobs helped me to solidify my decision to teach since I enjoyed them so much. After the summer I moved with my fiance to Dubuque Iowa where I currently live to attend school at Loras University. Here I am working to get my secondary teaching license by taking courses. I additionally work at the UD Child Care Center as an assistant teacher. I hope to someday teach science, specifically biology, to secondary students in high school, preferably.
Teaching Philosophy
Growing up I, like everyone really, quickly realized what I thought made a good teacher. By going through school and being introduced to so many different styles of teaching you see what works and what doesn't, so I have incorporated what I always saw as positive things into my own teaching philosophy. I have a laid back teaching style that encourages humor and a general upbeat feeling in my classroom. Most of my lessons begin with some sort of classroom wide discussion that allows the students to talk about a new topic first. I also try to incorporate where we are going during the day so I try to guide the discussion in a way that leads the students to questions I want to answer.
Science is the most important subject to me and my teaching style is based on getting the students excited about science and what science can mean to them. I will use my passion in the subject to help them to become passionate about the topics as well. I will incorporate the scientific method in as many things as I possibly can. this will make my classroom very PBL based. My classes will also use scientific writing during my classes, as this is an important part of science as a whole.
Classroom management is also an important part of my philosophy. Due to my style of teaching I will be building rapport with my students throughout the year. That being said I believe that giving the students your expectations at the beginning of the class is extremely important. So my syllabus will be in depth and read aloud to my students so they know what to expect.
Science is the most important subject to me and my teaching style is based on getting the students excited about science and what science can mean to them. I will use my passion in the subject to help them to become passionate about the topics as well. I will incorporate the scientific method in as many things as I possibly can. this will make my classroom very PBL based. My classes will also use scientific writing during my classes, as this is an important part of science as a whole.
Classroom management is also an important part of my philosophy. Due to my style of teaching I will be building rapport with my students throughout the year. That being said I believe that giving the students your expectations at the beginning of the class is extremely important. So my syllabus will be in depth and read aloud to my students so they know what to expect.
Field Experiences
Senior High School (Dubuque, IA)
Hempstead High School (Dubuque, IA)
Walhert High School PDS (Dubuque, IA): Feb - May 2014
- Student teaching experience in general biology class
Hempstead High School (Dubuque, IA)
- Logged 30 hours of in-class time
- Biology classroom
Walhert High School PDS (Dubuque, IA): Feb - May 2014
- Logged 40 hours of in-class time
- Logged 10 hours of service hours
- Biology Classroom
- Position as assistant teacher for 2-3 year olds
- Special Needs