Teachers....I have some questions for you please!?

Question

I have an assignment in college to interview a teacher for the following questions. Take a few minutes to respond to these questions please. Thank you in advance!

1.What are some examples of typical, quick decisions teachers make on a daily basis?

2.What were the five most difficult school-related decisions you made this week? What made them difficult?

3.What was the impact of those decisions on the classroom environment? Were the decisions effective?

4.How do you settle a classroom down whenever you are attempting to give instruction and students are being disruptive?

5. What are some strategies that you utilize in the classroom to maintain being a caring professional when faced with a difficult situation?

Once again, thank you for your time!

Answer 1

1.What are some examples of typical, quick decisions teachers make on a daily basis?

A common one for me is if the students should be given more time for an assignment i.e. journal topic that seems to have them writing more than usual or activity that has them extremely engaged. I have to decide if it's worth to postpone what I had planned next or just stop the great momentum and move on as planned

2.What were the five most difficult school-related decisions you made this week? What made them difficult?

   a. Being that this was our first week, whether or not to let my students pick their own number (didn't work out BTW). I wasn't sure if giving them the option would be time consuming

   b. Also BTS, having students and I discuss rules (worked). Wasn't sure if this would help them in "owning" the rules. Has worked before but each year, I fight with myself as to yes or no.

   c. Continue with BTS Lang. Arts or Start the first theme (HM). We are on a strict pacing guide this year but still feel that you can't start a reading selection mid-week.

   d. Can't think of anymore for the week.

3.What was the impact of those decisions on the classroom environment? Were the decisions effective?

The classroom was a little rowdy when doing the numbers and that was my biggest issue. They all wanted #1. Had to resort to them giving me their top 3 choices on paper, with two tie breakers.

4.How do you settle a classroom down whenever you are attempting to give instruction and students are being disruptive?

I think this is called "Chant and Response". I say "Spongebob", they have to reply "Squarepants". Chose this because it something all kids in 4th grade like :)

5. What are some strategies that you utilize in the classroom to maintain being a caring professional when faced with a difficult situation?

Not sure what you mean here since there are so many different situations. A big one is being in the room alone with any student. Never do this!! I always stay at the door. If they need to tell me or I need to tell them in private, I do it at the enterance where other people can see me. I always make sure the others are  not within hearing distance.

If I'm faced with a situation of child abuse, consult with my administration and follow up with CPS AND any other recommendation from my admin.

Answer 2

1. differentiation for each students needs, once i teach i check their learnign straight away with whiteboards- assess what step i need to do next , do i move on reinforce or what... set different tasks for different students int eh room. ( math 7-8th grade algebra)

2. had a kid who is a known distruptive 1st day should i kick her out of the room straight away or give her some positivity and recognize that she has some learnign gaps. - sad, no family to support her at all!- kept her in and she did what i  asked her to do.

3. i had to literally focus my energy away from her and when i interacted with her made a comment that was positive but did not give her too much attention compared to the rest of the class.  it went well and the rest of the class were equally addressed.

4. i trained them the first day  whilst doign an activity several times i counted 3-2-1 and i told them that by 1 i would expect them silent-

we practiced a routine of handing in homework by passign around a folder quickly and had some slick transition so they were aware that there was one comign up and the expectations- that way no one was surprised.

i lower my voice lower than them so they have to listen.

5. i told them as i went through the rules of my philosophy- i give them many non verbal cues. i told them what those cues might be- a look. standign over them so they know what to expect

i then told them that  i would give them a verbal warning, by beding down at their level and givign them a warnign quietly,  and i would say i would like u to change yr behavior- that didn't mean that the kid was a bad person - most kids liked that one.

kids would be removed but i didnt like doing that as u are here to learn and i want u to maximize yr learning experience.

i then said that the last opportunity was a lunch detention.

i set up my expectations- how they can succeed in my class and how they can not succeed in my class.  i give them a choice and not make it personal and address their behaviour not the person.  i told them that on the first day.

Answer 3

1.Social problems - usually stuff that happens at recess. Frienship stuff.  How to take kids to the next level to grow... My job is made up of quick decisions in the moment.  It can be reading with a kiddo and finding a skill to improve.  During writing conferences and thinking about where to lead them next.  Lots and lots!

2.Do I call a parent when their child did something that they really need to know about knowing that they will probably discipline them in a way that is borderline abuse?  What subject can I not plan as well for tomorrow so that I can go to bed already because it is already 1 in the morning?  AGain, so many difficult decisions because everything can be like a domino effect - teaching sn't a game.

The best way to settle the classroom down is honestly to have pretaught your expectations at the very beginning of the school year. I flip the lights. We have a hand signal. I don't yell. I move around the classroom constantly. If a student is super disruptive they get a quiet warning. After several warnings, they are asked to leave the room and go to the hallway where we can have a discussion later.  I also try to get in tune with my kids. Why are they acting up? Have I been talking too much? Do they need to stretch? Do they not get it? Do they need to talk to digest the information with each other - there is nothing wrong with that.

5. THis is a tough one.  My most awful and most difficult situations have had to do with parents who are unrealistic or overstepped their boundaries. I still have trouble with this. The best way to -if you can- detach myself and assume positive intent. I also take personal days - those can work wonders. I have always regretted my actions and words when I have answered or dealt with a situation when extremely tired and not thinking straight.