Kimberly Brown

Dr. Cid
Intro to Teaching
16 December, 2015
Teacher Interview
(Miss Hadden-K-1)
When and where did the interview take place: Whittier Christian
Elementary School on December 10th, 2015
On Category 1: You and your Content
1. In what way do you present the state adopted content standards?
-I follow our curriculum very closely, and the state standards are built into the curriculum. A
year plan is in place and is quite detailed. I do my best to stick with it and present the material
as required. Your classroom make up (with regards to academic ability) will affect pacing.
2. How do you determine skill levels in your students?
-Students were tested to enter kindergarten, and then assessed the first week. From there
students were placed in leveled learning groups. Those groups are re-evaluated every quarter
after formal testing. I also determine skill level through weekly assessments like sight words,
reading, and math. And as a teacher, you are informally assessing your students constantly.
3. What helps you in selecting the most appropriate instructional materials/techniques for a
particular content?
-Your students play a huge role. You have to be able to adapt to their learning styles. I am a
creative person, and a hands on learner, so that is where my brain initially takes me. Especially

in Kindergarten, you have to have the kids up and interacting. They cannot sit too long, or
retention just stops! I look in the curriculum for suggestions, speak with grade level team, and
meet with first grade teachers from time to time. I make notes each year what worked and what
did not, so that I am better prepared for the following year.
4. Christian School: In what ways are you intentional about applying biblical principles?
-We have weekly Bible stories, and when possible I tie in the theme throughout the day and
across the curriculum. Coming from subbing in a public school, and being raised in public
school, it has been hard to remember that I am free to tie in faith. This is my third year, and I am
much better at doing this now. I fully believe, however, that Biblical integration can happen all
the time in the classroom. There are opportunities to point all things back to God at numerous
points in the day. Kindergarten students are also learning how to be human and interact with
those around us. We talk a great deal about character and honoring God with our actions and
words.

Category 2: You and your Students

1. What are several assessment techniques that you find to be most effective in determining
student understanding and mastery?
-At the kindergarten level, I have found that discussions are effective in measuring
understanding. However, you can quickly gather your information through testing (sight words,
letter sounds, etc.) Informal assessment is continuous.
2. How do you liven up content standards to enhance student interest and learning?
-In kindergarten, you are throwing a birthday party daily; or at least thats how it feels.

These kids are discovering the world for the first time, so as much excitement and hands on

activity is helpful. Poems, songs, movement, and fun all spark the students interests. In areas
like writing, I encourage them to speak from life experiences. (I thought that was a super cool
way to sum it up, because after observing her class, I can totally see the birthday party feel she
gets from these kids)
3. What do you do to promote an environment of attempt among your students?
-Our class motto is We are thinkers and we are learners. Kids in my class know that learning
is a process. Sometimes we make mistakes, but we can learn from our mistakes. I also
constantly remind them that its okay not to know something, but its not okay to not to try! My
students are pretty eager to learn. It is their first year in big kid school so I havent had a
huge battle to get my students to attempt things. I also think that my room is safe, bright, and
fun. Its a welcoming environment that heavily features the students and all they have done
throughout the year.
4. When planning, what is most important to you to know about your students?
-Its important to know what the students love to learn about, and how they learn. It is
important to know how successful they have been in relation to prior material taught.
Knowledge of student backgrounds and life experiences also help when planning and delivering
a lesson.
Category 3: You and your classroom
1. What strategies do you use to effectively pace your lessons?
-Pacing is one of the things I have to get better at. It comes with getting adjusted to the
curriculum. You have to find a happy medium of your kids needs as a learner and the objectives
needing to be met. Sometimes curriculum drags out a lesson, and your kids have mastered it
already its time to move on! Sometimes they need more help than the lesson provides you

have to supplement and makes sure you review. Having a year-long plan for each subject also
helps. It gives you a road map to follow for the year. You know what the end goal is.
2. Please tell me about the classroom environment you desire to create and how you establish
and maintain that standard in your classroom?
-I desire for my classroom to be a safe place of learning and discovery. I am big on creating
hands on experiences. This is very important for all ages, but especially with kindergarten.
They do not do well sitting in their desks or on the carpet for long periods of time.
I want my classroom to be bright and cheerful, full of examples of learning. I want my students
to be excited to come to school. My students generally are very loving towards each other and
are very supportive. When my kids stop cheering for each other and begin fighting with each
other, I know that I am not doing my job fully. I change seating arrangements monthly
(sometimes more often if needed). I change displays regularly as well. This really sparks the
interests of my kids. Songs are HUGE! If you end up teaching lower elementary learn lots of
songs. You can use it for fun song time, for learning, and for management. I have a pack up
song for the end of the day and it works magic. I dont have to urge my students along, the song
does that!
Category 4: You as a Professional
1. What types of in-services have you found to be most valuable?
-Hands on in-services and those that are relevant are the most valuable to me. I want to be able
to interact with what I am learning. I, like the kindergarteners, dont enjoy being talked at for
long periods of time. I especially enjoy in-services that focus on thinking out of the box and
being creative in the classroom.
2. How do you overcome personal biases?

-I am not sure what area the question is focusing on, but I think its a battle to consider anything
that goes against your personal thought process. I have definitely become more thoughtful of
others perspectives since becoming a teacher. I dont always agree, but my response is different.
3. If you could lend one piece of useful advice to a person who is considering becoming a teacher what
would it be?
-Be okay with not being perfect. Be yourself. Despite what they tell you, a teacher prep

program does not fully prepare you. It comes with experience. It wont go as planned but be
flexible and be adaptable. Teaching is way more than an 8 hour a day job. Know that and
expect that but also force yourself to make a balance. Set a daily leave time and stick with it.
I feel like there is so much to share Get to know your students and tap into their likes and
desires. You will be more effective that way. Learn what makes them tick, and become their
champion, always fighting for them to be successful. View relationships with parents as a
partnership, and get them onboard with that idea as well. Be available to them. Dont only be
the bad new person to them. Accept whatever help you can get. Sleep! Load up on vitamin
C! Oops, this said one piece of advice I gave more than that! (Im totally okay with more
advice!)
4. What protocols are in place to report suspected child abuse of any kind of a student?
-We are mandated reporters. We are to document our concerns and bring them to
administration. Administration is to act from there. If administration disagrees with your
observations, or does not find them report worthy, it is okay to go with your gut and report
anyways. Documentation is very important.

What did I learn?

I love that Miss Hadden gave such detailed answers, because I didn't have much time to actually
talk to her while observing. I presume because we were dealing with Kindergarten and were
constantly moving. I really loved the point she made about viewing relationships with parents as
a partnership. I think that having a relationship with our students parents is so important, we are
both guiding these students how to live and adjust to this world. I definitely would like to keep
that in mind when I become a teacher. I also like that she said that she has become more
thoughtful of other peoples perspectives, because I know how hard it is to be open to others
ideas. I struggle with this even today, I get so stuck on my own ideas of how things should be
done that I turn down anything anybody else might have to say. This is definitely something that
I could be working on right now, as well as when I become a teacher, because others ideas and
thoughts may actually benefit me in some way or another. I also love that she has so many
different way to teach. She uses songs, art, poems and so many more interactive activities to keep
her students going throughout the day. I do not plan on teaching younger elementary, but I think
that this can definitely apply to upper elementary as well. I think that most of us can get easily
tired out by just sitting in the classroom listening to somebody talk for hours on end. Overall, it
was a very interesting experience and I greatly appreciated all over feedback. She really helped
me gain a new perspective on teaching. Perfection is not a requirement for becoming a teacher,
rather perfection is impossible to reach. We should strive to improve each day, but that doesn't
mean we arent going to make mistakes.