Teacher Interview:

Planning Questions:

How do you write a typical lesson plan?

I feel that my lessons are very detailed, more than most teachers these
days. They are not as detailed as the lessons that the college wants you to
write, that is a bit too much. The other ELA/SS teacher and I plan together.

What types of materials do you need available when you plan lessons?
Websites, digital toolsapps, standards, curriculum documents, texts, other
professionals, posters/visual aids, 180 Days of Reading. I also use the media
center, and technology center for help.

In what ways do you plan to accommodate individual differences in the

classroom?
I use small groups, conferring, and class setup for physical disabilities, help
students overcome fears, teach equality, and love all of my students.
Instructional Questions:

What are some of your instructional challenges as a teacher?

Wide range of levels in the classroom, not having sufficient materials, having
to search for everything.

What have been some of your instructional successes as a teacher?

I am a highly effective teacher. I am motivational and uplifting; I get students
excited to learn about things, or try and make things fun. I am a great
classroom/time manager.

What do you consider essential characteristics for successful teaching?

Being highly reflective is important; good enough isnt good enough. Things
go bad sometimes, but you cannot let that defer your day. I feel that when
you become a teacher, or for all teachers essentially, you will need a good
friend in the profession, no one really understands the demands and the
difficulties of teaching, not even spouses. Having someone to talk to is
important. Be flexible, and organized.

How often do your students receive social studies/science instruction?

Every other day students get social studies instruction. Every other day
students get science instruction, for 2 hours.

Are you satisfied with the amount of time that you currently allot for social
studies/science instruction? Explain.
Yes, because of block scheduling we get enough time for students to learn
social studies and science, we also try to integrate social studies and science
into our reading and writing lessons. Also, because this is a STEM school
students get to go to science lab, this is helpful.
I would like to have 30 more minutes a day to teach reading/writing. I still
teach grammar, and a lot of other teachers dont if I had 30 more minutes I
feel like I would have the perfect amount of time for all instruction.

 What would you do differently if you had the extra 30 minutes?

We do not write every day, or do reading every day. I do one or the other.
Usually my units include reading segment and then we follow up with a
writing assignment that follows along. Or we research and then write. I also
do a pleasure read aloud for the students every day. The grammar lesson and
the read aloud takes up 30 minutes.

What social studies and science topics/units will be studied during the second
week of my clinical experience?
We are learning about North Carolina, the different regions, cultures, that
made up North Carolina we it was just a colony.

What are possible goals/objectives I could address for my lessons?

Do you
have any instructional resources that would support these goals/objectives?
Not teaching a Social Studies Lesson

What does reading instruction look like in your classroom (e.g. readers
workshop, basals, etc.)?
I do a readers workshop type approach. I usually like to set up units that will cover a
type of literature, and then teach different skills from there.
What reading topics will be studied during the 2 nd week of my clinical
experience?
We will be working on a unit called Unsung Heroes, this is about a gray whale
rescue in Alaska. We are going to read several texts that talk about the event,
and research possible people who may have not gotten any recognition for
their help. Students will then research, make a graphic organizer, and then
write a newspaper article for the publishers of Unsung Heroes. Afterwards
they will publish their work online, using a digital source called Sway. It will
include a Title of the article, the paragraph written, and two pictureswith
captions.
What are possible goals/objectives I could address for my reading lesson? I
am not sure yet, we have a lot to cover in a small amount of time. I will know
closer to the time when you arrive.
Do you have any instructional resources that would support these
goals/objectives? Not at this time.
Classroom Management Questions:

What motivation tactics do you use to ensure a desire to learn?

Celebrate Success-- earn stars redeem prizes. Relationship developed
between teacher and student, complements Encouraging growth. Helping
kids that are very strong, may not grow, thats okay

Tell me about the classroom community.

What are the class rules? Be safe,

be respectful, follow directions, be responsible.

How is student behavior monitored? Do Jo points; PBIS cards (Safe respectful

and responsible.) In what ways is positive behavior reinforced? Send
messages to parents.

In what ways are negative behaviors prevented? I try to see before it

happens, watching them, give them a look, walking over and stand over, a
touch. I build relationships with my students, in result instead of acting out a
lot of them come to me with a problem before it escalates.
Tell me about the consequences for negative behavior. Red DO JO subtracts
stars. Lessons on how to treat people ingratiated. I do not put up with a lot.

Tell me about the pacing of lessons and interaction in the classroom- use of
time- and other aspects of timewait time, and time using teacher talk and
student talk. What works well with your students?
No down time in class, transitions from one thing to the next.
When I want my students to speed through something I may say, okay when
you are finished quickly put your things around and walk around the room.
This speeds up the students and gives them time to move around.
I do not leave room for chaos, I am very strategic with everything I do,
whether it be getting in line, bathroom breaks, or moving from one thing to
the next. I also use timers during lessons to help pace.