EDU 4010.

OL1 Field Observation Teacher Interview Protocol

Name: Megan Pulley
Date: 11/28/16
Teacher: Mrs. Shelton
Subject/Grade Level(s): Sixth Grade - Math
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. Shelton was one of eight daughters. They each graduated from
Longwood University and became teachers. This was the only way
she could afford to get a college education because at that time
there were teaching grants that would pay for your college education
as long as you came back to a rural area to teach. She graduated
from both high school and college 2 years early, and obtained her
Masters degree in just 9 months. At the age of 18, she was the
youngest schoolteacher in the state of Virginia. She actually had to
get permission from the state superintendent to sign her contract.
She retired from Virginia at age 48, but of course did not receive her
first retirement check until age 50. It was then that she began
teaching at Vance Charter School in Henderson, NC. She believes
that teaching is a gift. However, she says that if she had had her
choice, she wouldve gone into pharmacy.
She tells me that education has changed a lot over the years. She
mentions that her father was instrumental in shaping her into the
teacher she is today. He would always tell her that without
discipline, you cannot have direction. She loves the intrinsic reward
that comes with teaching seeing her students succeed and even
running into them years later and have them tell her that she
inspired them.

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. Shelton says that she prepares by using common sense. She
looks at the standards, looks at what her students can do, and based
on their level of preparedness, she teaches what needs to be taught;
whether it be the skill below or above the standard being taught.

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

(probe for how they lead students to attempt assigned task and

EDU 4010.OL1 Field Observation Teacher Interview Protocol

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. Shelton motivates her students by being herself. She is real
with her students and lets them know that she, too, is human and
makes mistakes. She believes that her student like that she is this
way.

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. Shelton tries her best to build her students self esteem. She
mentions that it is not the students job to like Math, but it is her job
to teach them to learn it. She tries to teach students in a way that
allows them to enjoy doing the math so that they will stay focused on
it. She mentions that she always tries to make students feel
confident in their abilities and give them plenty of praise and
recognition.

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. Shelton believes in allowing students to work in groups. She
rearranges the groups throughout the year so that students have an
opportunity to work with each other their classmates at some point.

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

(probe for planning, collaborating, standards based assessments,
feedback, family engagement, student engagement?
Mrs. Shelton believes that a main characteristic of effective teaching
is when a teacher can walk into a classroom and students are
attentive to him/her. She says that it is possible to walk into a
classroom and tell effective teaching just by observing the ways that
the students are interacting with the teacher. She also believes in
discipline and direction. She says that her students may say shes
mean or strict, but they really do love her.

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

learning in your content area?
Mrs. Shelton says that she is not a proponent of Common Core. She
feels that the expertise is within the teacher. She feels that Common
Core is so regimented where every student must perform to the same
level, and that they are in some cases being set up for failure. She
does believe that there should be set standards; however, she also
believes that it should go back to the teacher to determine whether
the student has met proficiency. She feels that a lot of creativity and
motivation is taken away from the students because of constantly
drilling the standards.

EDU 4010.OL1 Field Observation Teacher Interview Protocol

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

discipline/subject area?

Mrs. Shelton says that she has to do this with word problems, and so
students will know how to relate the language of algebra to regular
word language. She has to provide students with key terms
(vocab. list), and has them match the operation with the word. She
does this with every new skill they learn.

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

texts in your class?
Mrs. Shelton says that she is more of a visual and auditory model as
opposed to reading. She says she does use a lot of graphs and
things like that, as well as interactive vocabulary books. She does
have some texts that she uses, but she realizes that there are some
students who are at a disadvantage when it comes to reading, so she
makes sure to provide visuals to accompany it.

10.
In what ways do you incorporate writing in your class
with your students?
Mrs. Shelton says that she makes students sign their name on their
papers in cursive writing. She has students do error analyses where
she gives them about 6 problems that are already worked out.
Students must write down what the error is, why, and the correct
steps that shouldve been taken.

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. Shelton says that she has had some professional development
about engaging students brains for higher thinking, but not really in
the area of reading. She is honest and mentions that she is very
math oriented, and that reading is not her thing.

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. Shelton states that her principal used to be a math teacher and
was an engineer by trade. She believes that he is the best principal
she has ever had. He respects her as an expert in the 6 th grade math
curriculum. He provides her with whatever she needs, and gives
advice. He never condemns her, but instead allows for reflection and
communication about her thoughts on any issues that may occur.
She says that he has a great work ethic, and forms a relationship
where she wants to work for him and do well for the school and
students.

EDU 4010.OL1 Field Observation Teacher Interview Protocol

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. Shelton says that they have meetings about their various
methods. They help each other while realizing that what works for
one may not necessarily work for the others. However, they can
always go to each other for advice.

14.
How do you learn about a students prior learning
experiences within your content/discipline?
Mrs. Shelton says that she learns this information because they have
meetings. She will meet with the curriculum specialist, parents, etc.,
to prepare for meeting the needs of each student that will be in her
class in the upcoming year.

15.
How do you track your students progress in your class?
Formative assessments? Summative Assessments? Other?
Mrs. Shelton says that they use ALEKS, a computer program that
tracks their progress. It is a teaching tool and tracks their strengths
and weaknesses. She uses this information to make tests.

16.
How do you support students who struggle with reading
and writing within your class?
Mrs. Shelton says that they have a specialist who comes in to provide
support for students in class, as well as through pull-out sessions.
She adheres to students IEPs and reads word problems, directions,
etc. to them when necessary. She just supports them.

17.
Is there anything else you wish to share with me about
teaching or any advice?
Mrs. Shelton tells me that from the very first day you must have
discipline. She mentions that it is also important to tell the students parents
about the expectations as well. She believes discipline is number one.