EDU 4010.

OL1 Field Observation Teacher Interview Protocol

Name: Megan Pulley
Date: 11/29/16
Teacher: Mrs. Roberson
Subject/Grade Level(s): Sixth Grade Social Studies (also teaches Science,
but was teaching Social Studies when I observed)
Instructions: Please let the teacher know the interview will take up to 45 minutes. You can
use zoom, telephone, a local coffee shop, or their classroom to interview your teacher. You
do not have to submit the questions to the teacher, as you want the interview to be more
of a conversation. The purpose of these interviews is to allow you to connect what you
observe, to the teacher, to your text, and to your own practice as a teacher. After
conducting your interview, you will provide a summary (no more than one page) of each
teacher content area you conduct your observation for. You may find that a teacher is
unable to answer all questions. This is ok! This summary will include what you gleamed
from the interview, points you wish to include within your classroom, and any connections
you made to the course, text, or activities. This will be submitted at the end of the
semester at a date determined by your instructor.

1. Please tell me a little about yourself and why you became a

teacher?
Mrs. Roberson tells me that she always wanted to be a teacher. Even
when she was a little girl, she would set up her dolls and pretend to
teach them. She enjoys being with the kids, and truly loves teaching.
It was what she always wanted to do.

2. How do you prepare for standards-based instruction with your

class? (probing statements i.e. preparing to conduct caring and
organized class activities, prepared to promote learning to recall and
comprehend, or and/or preparing to promote learning to apply,
analyze, sensitize, or evaluate.
Mrs. Roberson tells me that for Science the standards are very
regimented. But when it comes to Social Studies, she says that she
splits the curriculum with the 7th - 8th grade teacher because it is so
vague. Mrs. Roberson teaches part of the world, and the other
teacher covers the rest.

3. How do you motivate your students to participate and learn?

(probe for how they lead students to attempt assigned task and
activities, how they lead students to direct their own behavior and/or
devote energy to tasks, or how students take visible initiative and/or
devote energy to tasks, and/or how they lead students to take visible
initiative and/or persist when task is difficult)

Mrs. Roberson states that the problem is that no two kids are the
same, so they will always be doing different things. She likes to
follow students lead in regard to what they are interested in. She
has one student with learning disabilities who prefers to remove
himself from everyone when working on a task. They have an
agreement that she allows him to go wherever he needs to go in
order to successfully complete the work. She says that she also likes
to joke around with her students, while at the same time making her
expectations clear.

EDU 4010.OL1 Field Observation Teacher Interview Protocol

4. How do you include diverse students within your class

activities? (i.e. provide developmentally appropriate instruction for
the grade/subject, enable as many students to participate, contribute,
be appreciated, or steps to accommodate/include particular students)
Mrs. Roberson states that its always a good idea to figure out
students interests so that you can use that to draw students in to
the content. She said that so many times students are in their own
little world, so its very important to figure out how you can make
those connections.

5. How do you organize your class for interaction and learning?

(probe for how the teacher leads the class to comply with rules and
routines, how they lead the class to regular their own participation in
an activity, how they lead the class to support each other in learning)
Mrs. Roberson tells me that sometimes peer pressure can work to
your advantage. When you begin to praise certain students or
groups, others will begin to work harder because they, too, want to
the recognition. She believes in the power of positive reinforcement,
but we have to constantly remind ourselves to make a point to let
students know that we are proud of them. Oftentimes it is the very
student who frustrates you that will need to hear it the most.

6. What do you feel are the characteristics of effective teaching?

(probe for planning, collaborating, standards based assessments,
feedback, family engagement, student engagement?
Mrs. Roberson believes that effective teaching involves being caring,
competent, and compassionate. She feels that if you dont have
compassion then all you are doing is working a job.

7. How do the Common Core State Standards affect literary and

learning in your content area?
Mrs. Roberson states that for her, it affects her the most in regard to
writing. She realizes they need to write more and write longer
answers to questions, in essay format, etc.

8. In what ways do you teach reading comprehension in your

discipline/subject area?
Mrs. Roberson states that reading comprehension has to be taught
all the time, but she feels that a lot of her content requires reading
and memorization. They have an online version of their textbook
where students can have the text read aloud to them. She says that
reading is definitely key in her content area.

9. In what ways do you motivate your students to read your

texts in your class?
Mrs. Roberson states that students understand that it is not an
option, and if they dont read there will be consequences. She does
utilize the online version of the text and have it read aloud to them,
but when she does she is constantly walking around to make sure
students are following along in their books.

EDU 4010.OL1 Field Observation Teacher Interview Protocol

10.
In what ways do you incorporate writing in your class
with your students?

Mrs. Roberson states that in Science they must write their

hypothesis, conclusion, or write a summary about something theyve
read when it comes to social studies.

11.
What professional development have you taken to assist
with literacy within your content area/discipline? From the PD
you have attended, which do you feel has been the most
beneficial to help you in your class?
Mrs. Roberson tells me that she mainly consults with her colleagues
when she is in need of ideas or advice, or to make connections
among the various content areas.

12.
How does your school leadership support you as a
teacher in your content area/discipline, or professionally as a
teacher? (support can be classified as the teacher defines it, but could
include workshops, observations, peer sessions, observing other
teachers, etc.)
Mrs. Roberson states that the leadership allows her to do her job,
trusting that she will do it effectively. If she is interested in any
Continuing Education courses, they always make that available to
her.

13.
How do you collaborate with teachers within your
content/discipline area? Outside of your content/discipline area?
(collaboration can look like planning meetings, professional
development, professional learning communities, informal meetings)
Mrs. Roberson tells me that they have their PLC meetings where they
talk about things they want to do as a school.

14.
How do you learn about a students prior learning
experiences within your content/discipline?
Mrs. Roberson believes that the best way to obtain this information
is through discussion with their prior teacher to find out what
worked/what didnt work for the students.

15.
How do you track your students progress in your class?
Formative assessments? Summative Assessments? Other?
Mrs. Roberson tells me that she tests her students every 2-3 weeks
on their content. She uses a variety of assessments, ranging from
multiple choice, to essay, to reading comprehension questions and
memorization of terms.

16.
How do you support students who struggle with reading
and writing within your class?

EDU 4010.OL1 Field Observation Teacher Interview Protocol

Mrs. Roberson states that she depends a lot on the EC teachers to
help in this area. She admits that she probably struggles with
providing support for them, but she does try her best to consult with
parents.

17.
Is there anything else you wish to share with me about
teaching or any advice?
Mrs. Roberson tells me If you dont love teaching, dont do it. You
have to love what you do, or it wont be worth it.