The biggest reason was working with kids due to ASSIGNMENT 5 (Cooperating Teacher

Interview): Complete the questions below by interviewing your cooperating teacher during a convenient
time. Include any school documents that your cooperating teacher will allow you to photocopy for your
packet.

Interview Question 1: What was the primary reason you became a teacher? >>>

The main reason was with their prior experience of working with a church youth group and the
slow progression of doing well when it came to working with children. After realizing how much
joy they gained from working with young students, the path to becoming an elementary teacher
felt like a natural progression.

Interview Question 2: What are the main challenges you face as a teacher? >>>

The biggest challenge will always be management in the class, especially when it rains or there
is a holiday approaching. While there are sometimes other staff who come in to help supervise
while the teacher provides a lesson, balancing working all students to make sure everyone is
on-task is tough.

Interview Question 3: What is the best part of being a teacher? >>>

“When the lightbulb turns on!” – Seeing that students are able to grasp a foreign concept is the
best feeling and makes all the hard work worth it all.

Interview Question 4: How do you determine where students sit in class? >>>

Generally, seating assignments are used based off testing. Moreso follows closely with within-
class ability grouping. Students are mostly well balanced, with also the inclusion of students
apart of their special needs program – though mostly those with high-functioning autism.
Students who do well exceptionally well in class tend to be grouped together, those who are
‘average’ ae together, and those who require more assistance are also group together; however,
all students are able to move around when they are allowed to do so to help their fellow peers.

Interview Question 5: How do you determine the members of any flexible groups? >>>

Math is where most of the flexible seating comes in, as aforementioned earlier. The
mainstreaming of special need students into the classroom is well rounded and can only be
discerned if one is specifically looking for it. The main emphasis is on student’s ability to work
not only on a new concept but together as a team as well.

Interview Question 6: Beyond standardized testing, what assessments do you use regularly? >>>

Formative assessments are mostly quick checks and stamped. Since the assignments are done
in class, the points given are based on completion and if they match what was taught in class.
 Summative assessments are quizzes and are used to show if students have mastered a concept
or require more assistance.

Interview Question 7: What requirements are placed on you for reporting progress to parents? >>>

The usual Progress Reports, Semester Reports, Report Cards, and sending any additional
comments are sent via Class Dojo.

Interview Question 8: How often do you interact with a student’s parents in person, and what type of
discussions do you typically have? >>>

Meet and greets along with Open Houses is where most of the interactions occur with student’s
parents. The only other time the parents are even seen is through parent-teacher conferences
and/or emails. Most discussions are how class is run, testing and any assistance the child may
need in order to succeed in class.

Interview Question 9: How much grading do you complete on a daily/weekly basis? >>>

When they first started, the cooperating teacher had said they graded so many papers 24/7. Now
they only do a few papers for an hour or so. Most of the assignments were done in class, so it is
easy to punch in grades. The only thing that takes longer is writing quizzes, but even that takes
less time. Especially when other assignments/quizzes are done online, and the information is
shown in an instance.

Interview Question 10: How long does it take to prepare lessons for the day/week? >>>

On average, it takes 15 minutes per standard and assembling a lesson plan/slideshow can take
a couple of hours. It is also taking a little longer because of a new reading program. The teacher
also has to work with other colleagues and ensure that each aspect of a lesson works well. Any
time that can be used is used.

Interview Question 11: What procedures or strategies do you use to maximize instructional time? >>>

The best strategies is having a slideshow and keeping a timer on standby helps to manage time.

Interview Question 12: What positive reinforcement programs have you had success with, and what
behavioral consequences seem most effective with this age group? >>>

Class Dojo has been used to help enforce positive behaviors and works almost instantaneously.
Simply by pulling it up and adding points to students who do well immediately changes the
attitudes of other students who don’t get rewarded with good points. There is also demerit
points, though only for sever misbehaviors.

Interview Question 13: How are specialist teachers involved in the instructional planning process? >>>
 There are none because they aren’t part of the main program. Specialist teachers are separate
from the ‘main’ teachers.

Interview Question 14: How often are you evaluated, and what measurement tool is used by the
administration for determining your teaching performance? >>>

Having been teaching for a long time, there are not as many evaluations – only 1 formal
evaluation conducted the year. Usually done randomly. Most common evaluation method is
Invax Standards.

Interview Question 15: What consequences are there if your evaluation is not favorable? >>>

Almost all of the evaluations are positive, so there is no large ‘consequence’. The only thing
that would be done is a small discussion on what is lacking, and how it can be improved.
Unless it is something that requires more attention, often times it is a simple note.

Interview Question 16: What types of support do you receive instructionally, financially, or professionally
from the school, parent organization or school district to enhance instruction? >>>

Instructional support: materials are provided for the teacher.

Interview Question 17: What surprised you most about teaching as a profession? >>

All the paperwork – especially at the elementary level. Things like SLGs, RTIs, and so on.

Interview Question 18: What collaboration and planning do you do with your grade-level team or
subject-department? >>>

Very frequent planning with the team – mostly paired of reading/writing and math/science.