Teacher Interview Protocol

1.  How do you design a lesson that addresses the different levels of learners in the classroom?  Modified instruction, one on one.  I have different levels of readers combine in groups-high, medium, low.  I modify math by letting lower students be responsible for fewer problems and higher students responsible for more. 

2.  How do you incorporate your resource teachers in the classroom?  Could you explain how they can be used?  Kids go to the resource teacher.  They help by modifying the instruction and giving me ideas to use.

3.  What is your favorite kind of instructional tool or teaching style?  Or you may begin this question with, I notice that you use a lot of partner work, how do you decide to use this type of instruction?  Why do you use this?  One higher student, one average, and one lower in each reading group.  I also like to use partner reading. 

4.  How do you know which type of instruction works for each child?  I look at their records and just use a little bit of trial and error.

5.  How do you incorporate parents in your classroom?  At PTO meetings, I ask for volunteers.  I have a parent come in on Fridays, that helps a lot.

6.  What kind of training did you receive in terms of assessment?  9 week- Inservice training, Peer training, workshops in EOGs, IQ testing, and Pre Mock.

7.  How do you define diversity?  What do you think of when you hear the word diversity?  Some of my students come from different backgrounds.  Some have parents in prison others have parents that are pharmacists.  Some kids have help at home and others don't.

8.  How do the children react to difference in the classroom?  They don't even notice it right now.

9.  How have the demographics changed in this school in the last few years?  Has this affected this school?  The diversity has changed.  There are more Hispanics in the school.  The school use to have over 1,000 students; now there is 500, since a new school was built.  The economy is bad in the county.  Many jobs were lost when Hanes and the furniture plants closed down.

10.  If you could share one bit of information with a new teacher, what would it be?  Be consistent and be yourself.  Don't try to be someone else.  If you're not happy it's useless.  Start small and pace yourself.  Teach the Standard Course of Study.  Get control of the class.

11.  How do you feel about the EOG's?  I do like to see where my children are, but to tell them where they need to be is ridiculous.  It's not fair to judge a student on one day and it's not fair that exceptional children are held accountable too.