Teacher Interview
1.
How do you plan a typical lesson plan?
I use the template that is given to me, I use 21stcentury learning skills, and critical thinking when I
plan for a lesson.
2.
What types of materials do you need when you are planning a
lesson?
Whatever is basically helpful for me. The two main things that I use when I plan a lesson
are the textbook and the standards I am teaching.
3.
In what ways do you plan to accommodate individual differences in the
classroom?
I usually create small groups for students who need more of a challenge or for
students who are struggling. I also do read aloud and have access to
manipulative for students that need them.
4.
What are some challenges you face when teaching?
The hardest thing for me is students who are not motivated and do not want to work.
Also non supportive parents can be a challenge especially when you are having
trouble with a student and need help from the parent. Many of my TD students get
bored easily and think that a lot of the work is just beyond them to they don’t do it.
5.
What are some successes you have had as a teacher?
I know when a lesson or idea is successful because you see that light bulb go off
and the students are able to understand and they make connections.
6.
How much time are you given a day to teach social studies and
science?
We are only given about 30 minutes a day to teach social studies and science and we
switch off every week which subject we teach.
7.
What do you do in order for students to understand and remember directions given
during a lesson?
I always write instructions on the board for the students. They will continually
ask questions about what they should be doing, this way they can just look up at
the board and they know what they should be working on.
8.
What are some of the classroom rules? How is student behavior
monitored?
When students turn in homework or assignments they get tickets which can be used to
get prizes or a piece of candy. I also use the word SLANT which means sit up,
listen, ask and answer, nod to agree, and track the speaker. When students are
misbehaving they have to write their name on the board and that means they will
be walking laps during recess. After they have walked their laps they are to
come and tell me if they understand why they are walking laps.
9.
How do you get students attention?
I ask them to get organized and they know to return to their desks and stop their
work and prepare for the next subject. They organize their materials on and in
their desks and sit quietly waiting for instruction.
Reflection
After interviewing my cooperation teacher I learned a lot about classroom management and planning. Since I interviewed her prior to my observations, I kind of knew what to expect when I entered the classroom. I was also able to observe some of the things we discussed in the interview. I noticed that the
teacher was very accurate when she talked about class rules and behavioral management. I observed that every teacher has their own type of classroom rules and behavioral management. However, many teachers try to keep the same idea of walking laps at recess. The teacher says she uses a template for planning her lesson but when she teaches it is not the same as what she has planned out. I think that the longer you plan lessons and become more comfortable with your students, it makes it easier to teach the way you would like. I feel like when we teach everything is so planned out that when a student asks a certain question we can be thrown off. I also observed when I taught my lesson that when you see a light bulb go off and the child understands it can make you feel very rewarded. Those are the moments that keep teachers motivated and excited about teaching. I also observed that when a child just sits there and does not do their work it can be very distracting and frustrating for the teacher. It is hard for someone to understand these challenges unless they experience them. I never realized how many ways there were to accommodate different students. Having extra materials for them when needed is very helpful as well as having an extra group for students who may need to be challenged more or who need more time. These groups allow for instruction that is more beneficial to the needs of the student.
After interviewing my cooperating teacher I was really surprised by how little they study science and
social studies. The class spends most of their day learning literacy and mathematics and very few time spent on social studies instruction. Even though students are not tested in this subject they should still be given more time to learn about it. I really liked her behavioral management and classroom rules
because it was really effective and the students seemed to follow the rules. I also like the idea of having some kind of hand gesture or phrase that the teacher uses to get the students attention. When I tried to get their attention by simply asking them to quiet down it was not very successful but when you ask
them to get organized they understand what to do. I really hope that when I become a teacher, we will have more instructional time for social studies and science. Being able to do this interview definitely prepared me for what to expect during my two week clinical visit.
1.
How do you plan a typical lesson plan?
I use the template that is given to me, I use 21stcentury learning skills, and critical thinking when I
plan for a lesson.
2.
What types of materials do you need when you are planning a
lesson?
Whatever is basically helpful for me. The two main things that I use when I plan a lesson
are the textbook and the standards I am teaching.
3.
In what ways do you plan to accommodate individual differences in the
classroom?
I usually create small groups for students who need more of a challenge or for
students who are struggling. I also do read aloud and have access to
manipulative for students that need them.
4.
What are some challenges you face when teaching?
The hardest thing for me is students who are not motivated and do not want to work.
Also non supportive parents can be a challenge especially when you are having
trouble with a student and need help from the parent. Many of my TD students get
bored easily and think that a lot of the work is just beyond them to they don’t do it.
5.
What are some successes you have had as a teacher?
I know when a lesson or idea is successful because you see that light bulb go off
and the students are able to understand and they make connections.
6.
How much time are you given a day to teach social studies and
science?
We are only given about 30 minutes a day to teach social studies and science and we
switch off every week which subject we teach.
7.
What do you do in order for students to understand and remember directions given
during a lesson?
I always write instructions on the board for the students. They will continually
ask questions about what they should be doing, this way they can just look up at
the board and they know what they should be working on.
8.
What are some of the classroom rules? How is student behavior
monitored?
When students turn in homework or assignments they get tickets which can be used to
get prizes or a piece of candy. I also use the word SLANT which means sit up,
listen, ask and answer, nod to agree, and track the speaker. When students are
misbehaving they have to write their name on the board and that means they will
be walking laps during recess. After they have walked their laps they are to
come and tell me if they understand why they are walking laps.
9.
How do you get students attention?
I ask them to get organized and they know to return to their desks and stop their
work and prepare for the next subject. They organize their materials on and in
their desks and sit quietly waiting for instruction.
Reflection
After interviewing my cooperation teacher I learned a lot about classroom management and planning. Since I interviewed her prior to my observations, I kind of knew what to expect when I entered the classroom. I was also able to observe some of the things we discussed in the interview. I noticed that the
teacher was very accurate when she talked about class rules and behavioral management. I observed that every teacher has their own type of classroom rules and behavioral management. However, many teachers try to keep the same idea of walking laps at recess. The teacher says she uses a template for planning her lesson but when she teaches it is not the same as what she has planned out. I think that the longer you plan lessons and become more comfortable with your students, it makes it easier to teach the way you would like. I feel like when we teach everything is so planned out that when a student asks a certain question we can be thrown off. I also observed when I taught my lesson that when you see a light bulb go off and the child understands it can make you feel very rewarded. Those are the moments that keep teachers motivated and excited about teaching. I also observed that when a child just sits there and does not do their work it can be very distracting and frustrating for the teacher. It is hard for someone to understand these challenges unless they experience them. I never realized how many ways there were to accommodate different students. Having extra materials for them when needed is very helpful as well as having an extra group for students who may need to be challenged more or who need more time. These groups allow for instruction that is more beneficial to the needs of the student.
After interviewing my cooperating teacher I was really surprised by how little they study science and
social studies. The class spends most of their day learning literacy and mathematics and very few time spent on social studies instruction. Even though students are not tested in this subject they should still be given more time to learn about it. I really liked her behavioral management and classroom rules
because it was really effective and the students seemed to follow the rules. I also like the idea of having some kind of hand gesture or phrase that the teacher uses to get the students attention. When I tried to get their attention by simply asking them to quiet down it was not very successful but when you ask
them to get organized they understand what to do. I really hope that when I become a teacher, we will have more instructional time for social studies and science. Being able to do this interview definitely prepared me for what to expect during my two week clinical visit.