Course: Introduction to Education, EDUC-120
Professor: Susan Sies
Assignment Title: Introduction to Education
For this project I had the opportunity to interview a teacher. We had several questions that we could ask while we interviewed; we could also ask our own questions. In this interview I asked:
- Why did you pursue teaching? Please share your education pathway (degree(s), college(s) attended) and professional experience (employment history) leading to your current position
- Have parents become more or less engaged in their children’s education as a result of COVID?
- What are two positive outcomes of your work?
- What are two pieces of advice that you would give a new teacher about classroom management?
- I often feel like the student’s see me as a brother and not a teacher. How do you balance being loving and being too friendly?
- After interviewing the teacher, I reflected on their answers to determine what the most important aspect a teacher should strive for. I concluded that a teacher should focus on achieving a productive learning environment to help form a healthy relationship with their students.
After interviewing the teacher, I reflected on their answers to determine what the most important aspect a teacher should strive for. I concluded that a teacher should focus on achieving a productive learning environment to help form a healthy relationship with their students.
Doing this interview helped me realize that I can use the same strategies when I become an educator. I can start by asking my fellow teachers for advice on how to interact with students or situations. I will then be able to use their past experiences with my own strategies to connect with my students. I can also use Mrs. O’Neill’s advice to create a healthy and inclusive learning environment that promotes learning.
Using the ideas Mrs. O’Neill outlined in the interview has already helped me grow and become a better educator. Some of these ideas are:
- Making sure the students know that you love them.
- Use your voice less.
- Don’t punish the whole class for something one student is doing.
- How to walk the line between being a friend and being an authority.
- Keep in mind that your students’ brains are at a different level than your own.
Challenges and Successes
A challenge I overcame was that because I spend so much time with the students I work with, I sometimes find it difficult to talk with adults. I find that I struggle to keep up in conversations about planning, student academics, and behavior management. Since this assignment had questions already outlined, I felt more confident in being able to complete the assignment. I will be able to use this knowledge to better plan more structured conversations with the adults that I work with now and in the future.