5+Teacher+Interviews

=Interview 1=

I, Timothy Baxter Jones, interviewed THE Dr. Grace Ward on November 4th, 2009 in regards to managing special groups within a classroom. These are the questions that I presented and the answers she responded with....

Question: Dr. Grace, what are some of the difficulties teaching a heterogeneous class? Answer: Schools have been trying to implement heterogeneous classes overnight, this is very bad. (Detracking) You can't just decide to detrack the whole high school. You have to systematically make some real philosophical changes that everyone needs to buy into. You guys are the change agents, you have to make sure you find the right tools to get them to learn.

Question: What are some of the difficulties in teaching a remedial class? Answer: It is all about making them believe in themselves and scaffolding the information. If they experience success, the students will feel good and in turn work for you. You have to have that type of relationship with them, they've been labeled their whole lives.

Question: Modifications for such a class? Answer: I would not change the goals. Provide scaffolding, and break it down into smaller pieces.

Question: What would you do when you had a classroom with a special needs student? Answer: Have the ed tech stay in the room and have the ed tech become a teacher assistant. If the ed tech focuses on the one student, it makes them feel isolated and points them out to other students. The ed tech's first responsibility would be the special needs student but would also help all the other students in the classroom.

Question: How do you change the way you teach when a student lives in extreme poverty or has a poor home life? Answer: I would converse with the student and get to the bottom of the problem. I would talk to other teachers, and find out if the student has a busy home life. I would find out when the student has a study hall and ask them to come in and do work for me. I would find ways to accommodate the student with their schedule. People don't take the time to look at this stuff.

General statements from Dr. Grace... The inclusion model, in order to work, needs everyone to be trained. Many teachers fail in the beginning because they do not know how to properly modify their classes. If the faculty were trained properly it could be very successful. There has to be a collaboration between regular ed and special ed teachers with some ed techs to assist the students. Never change the standards or the goals. Tiering can be used effectively to meet the same goals. Some students might need more formative assessments and checks for understandings but they still need good teaching, everyone can be successful.

Note: These are Dr. Grace's ideas but are not her exact words.

=Interview 2=

Interviewee: Arvid Cullenberg, Health teacher at Mt. Blue High School Interviewer: Rachel Lamblin

Question 1: What kinds of behavior problems have you encountered in the classroom?

All kinds of issues arrise in the classroom. Generally there aren't too many. Usually students will mouth off and the biggest issue I see is students that have poor attention spans and find it difficult to stay on task. There is usually more than one in each class as well. Disruptions from these students usually include tapping, talking to neighbors, and speaking out of turn. I have also witnessed students scrapping, generally in the halls, and I have been called named before. These instances are rare though.

Question 2: How did you handle these problems?

Typically I try to address students verbally in a non-threatening way in the class right when it happens. If it continues again or I feel that another conversation with the student needs to occur, student may need to be spoken to in the hall (in private) and if it still persists and student does not cooperate, they are sent to office. If it is continuous a call to a parent may be made. Generally I like to call parents before I seek administrative assistance.

Question 3: What do you think is the best way to handle a student who has a hard time paying attention in class?

Some students who have trouble paying attention in class may have an attention disorder. Other students are just totally disinterested in school or class and have no direction. Speaking with parents is a good way to come up with a solution to these problems.

Question 4: What about a student who doesn't hand work in on time?

In a heterogeneous grouped class, you always need to think about outside influences on students, such as family problems or substance abuse, that affect their work in school. I always try to give students other opportunities to make up work, but I will still take points away for late work. Students who are habitually late handing in work would be a red flag, and I would consider calling their parents.

Question 5: Have you ever had to deal with a student who was overly aggressive? What did or would you do in this situation?

These situations generally need assistance from an administrator, especially if a student is in danger of getting hurt. I have not had to deal with this in my class, but I have broken up fights in the hallway. I have never been aggressively approached by a student.

Question 6: What advice can you give to future teachers about deal with students with "problem behaviors"?

One of the most important things to do is to remain calm. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in not letting student have the final say. You don’t want student to feel like they are in control. If you remain calm they can’t read your emotions. Don’t let things bother you. Also know at what point in the behavior situation where it is appropriate to bail and let the administration handle the situation. Teachers should be able to handle some of these issues. Open communication with parents is important as well.