interview

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

Upper Elementary

MEMBERS

0 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Upper Elementary Teachers Chatboard

interview

by Marzena

Feb 20, 2009

Hi my name is MArzena. I'm attending Triton college right now and I'm thinking about becoming a teacher. So far i got a projct from my myth. I need to find some nice teacher and make an intervie with him.I would be very thankful if you could just answer for my questions

1) What is the name of your school, what grade do you teach, how long have you been teaching elementary school? 2)What is the name of your mathematics curriculum or book? 3)How is the mathematics curriculum chosen in your school? 4)How many minutes a day do you spend on mathematics instruction? 5)Describe a typical mathematics lesson. 6)What types of instructional methods do you use? 7)How do you address the diverse needs of your students? 8)How do you help students who are struggling in mathematics? 9)How do you challenge students who are gifted in mathematics? 10)Why do you choose to be a teacher? 11)Do you evere regrted that you are a teacher?

Comment

(1)

report post

JAM Hi Marzena. Here are my answers!

1) What is the name of your school, what grade do you teach, how long have you been teaching elementary school? Stanwood Elementary I teach a 4/5 combination class I've been teaching for 17 years

2)What is the name of your mathematics curriculum or book? Our district uses Trailblazers right now but...See MoreHi Marzena. Here are my answers!

1) What is the name of your school, what grade do you teach, how long have you been teaching elementary school? Stanwood Elementary I teach a 4/5 combination class I've been teaching for 17 years

2)What is the name of your mathematics curriculum or book? Our district uses Trailblazers right now but I do not use it at all. IT's very hard to follow and does not deal well with extentions or remediation. I find my lessons in a variety of places (books by Marilyn Burns are my favorites), but use the state standards in math to drive my long term plans and assessment. My district is in the process of choosing a new curriculum that we will start in the fall and I am very excited about it! Making my own lessons from here and there is ridiculously hard to do.

3)How is the mathematics curriculum chosen in your school? Our school district has a team of 10 teachers (2 per school) and a fe administrators who are piloting three new series. They will provide information to the district superintendent. I'm not sure who has the final say. One of the pilot teachers is my team mate so I'm getting a peak early. Things look good!

4)How many minutes a day do you spend on mathematics instruction? I teach math twice a day-- daily practice of computation plus other varied skills for 30 minutes in the morning using a supplemental program called Every Day Counts Math Calendar; then for another hour after lunch when I teach the 'lessons' in my unit.

5)Describe a typical mathematics lesson. Hmmm. Big question. I'm in a fractions unit right now. Here is an example. Monday this will be my lesson: I start by posing a problem: Which is a better deal: 2 candies for 5 cents or 3 candies for 6 cents? We use manipulatives and kids work in teams to explore how to answer this question. We discuss as a class and pose different solutions. Kids justify their thinking and ask each other probing questions. We create understanding through this process. Finally, we apply the new understanding to new situations. Later this week we will do more written work but at first it's problem solving and meaning making.

6)What types of instructional methods do you use? See #5.

7)How do you address the diverse needs of your students? Team work; open ended questions; Menus (where kids have a number of days to solve a range of problems, justifying their thinking-- some problems are simple and some are very complex). I also have my ESL degree and am bilingual.

8)How do you help students who are struggling in mathematics? I scaffold the work so kids who struggle can have more concrete practice with extra feedback; I tutor at recess; I work with parents to provide targeted practice at home.

9)How do you challenge students who are gifted in mathematics? I think my methods are especially appropriate for capable students because I have a range of real life problems to solve in math. My higher kids don't sit and wait for the rest of the class finish or have to spend their time tutoring the lower kids-- I make sure they have something to challenge them too. It takes a lot of extra time and work to keep them happily challenged, but what else could I do? They deserve to be learning too.

10)Why do you choose to be a teacher? I love to see children learn

11)Do you evere regrted that you are a teacher? Never

Feb 21, 2009

report post