Teacher Interview Protocol

Interview Protocol Teacher Interviewer: Amilia Keomuongchanh Date: 3/11/19 Planning Questions:

Interviewee: Time: 7:50 AM

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How do you write a typical lesson plan? Teacher: “I typically plan them with the other fourth grade teachers. I keep a planner and I include the lesson we will be working on that day. I plan it out a couple of weeks in advance, mostly by unit. We are departmentalized as you know, but it really helps to help the other teachers. I also have a binder with every worksheet I need.” The teacher showed me a binder with tons and tons of worksheets, vocabulary words, assessments, quizzes, and tests. They were organized sequentially with dividers. The binders were categorized by unit. I took a look at the fraction and decimal binders.

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In what ways do you plan to accommodate individual differences in the classroom? Teacher: “You will see later today how I do my math lessons. I teach them, let them practice on their own, then they usually do centers. While they’re doing centers, I will pull a couple of kids after I quickly grade the class work they just did. I have a few kids that I always need to work with, so I just kind of know them at this point, but that’s when I take the time to revisit them again.” Instructional Questions:

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What are some of your instructional challenges as a teacher? Teacher: “I think the hard part is trying to help your lower kids. They get pulled out of class for extra help which is great because they need it, but they fall even more behind when they come back because they miss everything. You’ll see it later when you’re here, but yeah, that’s the hardest part.

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What do you consider essential characteristics for successful teaching? Teacher: “Being really organized.”

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How often do your students receive social studies/science instruction? Teacher: “They do blocks and I teach Science. Teacher #2 teaches social studies. We get an hour block, which is nice. My home room class has Social Studies right now and they switch every four weeks.”

❑ Are you satisfied with the amount of time that you currently allot for social studies/science

instruction? Explain. Teacher: “I am, I think it’s a good amount of time.”

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What is your favorite subject to teach? Teacher: “Math and Science for sure. Science especially.”

❑ Do you like being departmentalized?

Teacher: “I do, I couldn’t imagine having to plan and teach all four subjects. With the older kids especially. I really love it. I can do more and focus in on just the two subjects.”

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How do you decide assessments? Teacher: “We do standards based assessments and I can show you that. We just started doing it for fourth grade. It’s different and I think we are all learning it, but all the assessments I have are in that binder.” Classroom Management Questions:

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

Teacher: “I wouldn’t say it ensures a desire to learn, but we use Classroom Dojo. It’s neat and I can show you it.”

❑ Tell me about the classroom community.

What are the class rules? How is student behavior monitored? In what ways is positive behavior reinforced? In what ways are negative behaviors prevented? Tell me about the consequences for negative behavior. Teacher: “I have a really good classroom community. Teacher #2 on the other hand, her class is more talkative. I think everyone knows what they’re supposed to be doing, and for the most part, they’re all good together. They know class rules, but they forget a lot. They will talk in the halls when they’re not supposed to. Mostly just talking a lot. We monitor everything through classroom dojo. If they are misbehaving, I take points away from them. They usually save their points for something big at the end. I will award points when I see them doing something good.”

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Do you do a lot of student-centered work? Teacher: “Not really. They’re pretty good at understanding everything after teaching them once. Science we are able to do more hands on activities, but math is mostly me teaching. That’s why I really like teaching Science.