Teacher Interview

Teacher Interview
InclusiveTeaching-102
Pamela Luster

Teacher Interview

1.Tell me about yourself as a teacher. Well I like very much being a resource teacher
to sit back and watch these children who some teachers and parents believe that they
are a loss cause. They are not to me.
I...Why did you decide to enter Teaching?
I worked with special education Teacher at Lawrence North as a volunteer at the community
center. I really enjoyed it and decided to become a Special Teacher when I got older. I believe
that about Mrs. Higginson because just my impression of her was just that.
She shows so much consideration with her children and you can see the empathy oozing out of
her. She seems to really like her job and most of the books that I read stated that teaching these
types of children make you want to leave. Yet, Mrs. Higginson like it and these children she has
are so high risk and she says she has to go the extra mile for her Babies!
ii. How many years have you been teaching? I have been licensed since 2007 and
my life has never been dull as a special education teacher. The children and their parents will
keep you busy. I went to IUPUI part-time for 2years, I attended Purdue until I got my Degree and
that time was very consuming for me. But I was determined to become a Special Education
Teacher. Because when I was a child they did not have the types of resources that they have to
help children with disabilities today.

Mrs. Higginson reminds me of myself right now because after every sentence she stressed how it
will be stressful for you and the child at first but do not give in stay focused and drive your

Teacher Interview

lesson plans and instructional strategies. I want so much to help society with the children of
today; because they are parentless with no hope I was told that most of her children in her class
are high risk. Why are so many children at risk? I asked myself.
iii. What grade levels and/or subject areas have you taught? I have always taught Middle
school resource but my teaching block is for K-6 and I usually teach 4th, 5th, and 6th. I have a
Special Education Degree and a General Education Degree
I am always going to do some type of In-Service class to enhance on the teaching
methods. Because, the criteria changes every year almost. She told me to always stay inform
and read your e-mails. Mrs. Higginson seems to be so comfortable within herself and the
children seem to be that way too. I said to myself will I be like this, I hope because just the two
weeks that I could observe so far she has her stuff together.

2. Describe the benefit of co-teaching? How does this assist in meeting all learners
needs? She says that in her classroom there are 5 more teachers that work with children so yes
co-teaching does exist in their one big classroom that has been partitioned off for each group of
children and for all of the teachers and they work in rotations with each child working with all of
the subjects and testing.

3. What are some instructional materials or teaching methods you have used for students
with high and low incidence disabilities? What accommodations have you used in an inclusive

Teacher Interview

setting for them? We use the core curriculum, manipulative, I- ready outside resources,
collaborations from other teachers through observations... (NACYE.2003, November).
4. How do you analyze a learners needs to maximize their social, emotional, physical or
cognitive achievements? A variety of different observation, distinct assessments, previous scores.
(NACYE, 2003, November).
5. What assistive technologies have you used to aid students with exceptional Max ,
EPIC, Predictive Text, UPAR, and Simon Snap Read.? There are a lot more that I could say but I
like these in particular because the software helps the children with colorful assignments and
music to entertain the children as they work... (https://teaching.berkeley.edu/ways-make-yourteaching-more-effective).
6. What is the role and responsibilities of a general educator in monitoring a learner with
exceptional needs? They do report cards, data collection, send assessment to teacher and they
both observe and assess the student. Then she grades the assessment from the teacher, if there are
gray areas then she and the teacher of service will try to bring a better plan into play (http://
education.cu.portland.edu/blog/teaching-strategies/5types-of-classroom-teaching-styles
7. What formal and informal assessments have you used to inform your instruction? Exit
tickets end of an assignment, ask questions previously asked, on what they have read. NWEA, IReady they keep separate note books. I was able to see some of her technology and software
programs and they are colorful and musical. I was very impressed with the materials that they
used for their children.
In conclusion I would like to say that being in Ms. Higginson class to me she is a winner,
because she cares so much for her children. She shows so much empathy towards all of the

Teacher Interview

children that comes through that door. There are four more other teachers that work out of this
classroom and they are amazing too! Their names are Ms. Woodard, Mr. Wyatt, Ms.Ewart they
have all been teaching about ten years,
I asked them if they ever thought about leaving their post they said no. Because, their children
needed them. On that note how could I reject, or refine. I could not put anything inside of this
paper but the truth. Ill accept. I got a chance to see how a child is referred for SPED. It is a team
of professional people.
Who is the most important, I think the psychologist and the teacher of service these two have all
of the information needed, and the teacher of service tells the psychologist about the child in her
room that is not thriving. The psychologist starts using the schools resources for referrals and
they immediately contacts the parent after testing of course. Once all of the paper is in that is
when the healing begins.
The child will have a teacher of service, a teacher of record, the schools psychologist, the
special education teachers and the the child and parent. The IEP begins, the reinforcements are
used and the child will be assessed the rest of their school years.
I was fortunate enough to see this happen. I saw how the team came together. My days so far at
Andrew J. Brown has been very awakening.
I will have evolved to where I am not nervous yet capable to succeed. Because, this is some job.
Yes, you have to be strong willed and empathic. I believe that if you have these qualities about
yourself and you want to work with children with disabilities then you must try.
you should be Firm yet soft with empathy.

I believe that

Teacher Interview

Teaching these types of children keeps a teacher grounded they always need assistant with their
educational knowledge. The children I believe would like to grow. Ex. Young man comes into
class, Ms. Higginson, asked why are you here he responds the children do not want me in their
group. They make fun of me. For a minute or two she let him sulk and then she asked him to
come over and told him that this class liked him and it would be fine for him to come and be in
her group.
He did and that was that. She said on days like these she keeps them the whole day. To build
confidence -up. Then informs the TOS that the children were rude to this particular child and it
needs to be brought up in class about the ADA statement.
She told me that the children needed guidance, empathy and awareness they must be told about
these type of children and stop making fun of them. Because they have every right to learn just
as they do. Wow! I thought what a heart; Mrs. Higginson really likes what she does and if you
stay and observe you can see it.
She is really a great Special Education teacher. I would like to gain the skills that she has her
deminer is very low key her voice is very soft I could go on about her.
So, the focus for me is to know how I would teach and what would I teach I look at these four
individuals and their concept on teaching is different yet similar to each others lesson plans .All
of these teachers are very dedicated from what I see.
They are the cats meow. I cannot talk much about doing special education due to the fact I am
learning and growing myself. My friends and some educators say my tone has changed and my
attitude towards the disabled they do want to be normal and feel normal and most importantly be

Teacher Interview

accepted would like to continue on this journey. Just to see if I will become a general educator or
a Special Educator.

Teacher Interview

Reference
https://education.cuportland.edu/blog/teacing-strategies/5types-of-classroom-teachingstles/
(NAEYC.2003, November)
https://teaching.berkeley.edu/ways-make-your-teaching-more-effective