Teaching Platform Interview Transcribed
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By: Rachel Cohalla
Interviewed By: Kelly Bryant
Kelly: So why did you choose to become a teacher?
Rachel: I chose to become a teacher because that’s what I always pictured myself doing. I love working with children and being someone they are able to come to if they needed help. And I used to babysit so I used to enjoy coming up with activities or helping them with their homework, so it kind of led me to the education path.
Kelly: Five years after your students have left your classroom, what do you want them to say about you as a person? About your teaching? About the learning that occurred during their time with you?
Rachel: As a person, I want my students to remember me as a friend. Someone they can come to if they needed anything or just to talk if they had a bad day. As a teacher, I want them to remember me as someone who made them fall in love with learning. Whether it be finding a passion for science, a love for reading, or a knack for math; I just want them to open their eyes to something new. And then, as for the learning that goes on in my classroom, I want it to be very interactive and I want them to remember activities that went on. And I want my class to be a fun environment where learning came natural to all my students.
Kelly: Okay. Why should students learn the content that you teach?
Rachel: I think that all content is necessary for anyone and they’re going to need those as they go into higher grades, because it is going to foreshadow material as they move on. And not only will the content benefit them for the future but it like, helps them build as a person.
Kelly: How will you know that you have taught a successful lesson? How do you know when your students have learned what you hoped to convey?
Rachel: I think teaching a successful lesson is most important, but it is going to take time to get to that level. You just have to make sure students are engaged and they are wanting to learn this material, and that’s when they are going to be able to retain it. And, I think I’ll know if it is successful by their feedback; like if they are going to show it, whether, in their assignments afterwards or verbally after the lesson is taught.
Kelly: If I were a new student in your classroom and asked you “What do you expect from me?” how would you respond?
Rachel: I would respond by telling them just to do their best, that if you do your best in class that is sufficient. Along with doing their best, also is just following the classroom rules and procedures like everyone else, and by doing that he or she will fit right in and be a successful student.
-chatter-
Kelly: If I were a parent of a new student and I asked you to describe the learning environment in your classroom, how would you respond?
Rachel: I would respond by showing them classroom set-up. I plan on having group desk to promote collaborative learning and community. Also, having different work stations throughout the classroom, like reading areas, a library, and computers. That way they can promote learning individually and in groups. Then I will have different methods to teach to each learning style.
Kelly: Okay, what analogy would you use to describe what you hope to be as a teacher? You might answer this statement, teaching is like __(blank)___. Or teaching is __(blank)__.
Rachel: Okay, I think teaching is a full-hearted commitment. It’s not a job where you just punch-out and you don’t go back to over the weekend or when you are at home. You need to plan at home and make it one of your top priorities. Just making sure you are prepared for your lessons and that you’re understanding the materials as well as your students to make everything work.
Interviewed By: Kelly Bryant
Kelly: So why did you choose to become a teacher?
Rachel: I chose to become a teacher because that’s what I always pictured myself doing. I love working with children and being someone they are able to come to if they needed help. And I used to babysit so I used to enjoy coming up with activities or helping them with their homework, so it kind of led me to the education path.
Kelly: Five years after your students have left your classroom, what do you want them to say about you as a person? About your teaching? About the learning that occurred during their time with you?
Rachel: As a person, I want my students to remember me as a friend. Someone they can come to if they needed anything or just to talk if they had a bad day. As a teacher, I want them to remember me as someone who made them fall in love with learning. Whether it be finding a passion for science, a love for reading, or a knack for math; I just want them to open their eyes to something new. And then, as for the learning that goes on in my classroom, I want it to be very interactive and I want them to remember activities that went on. And I want my class to be a fun environment where learning came natural to all my students.
Kelly: Okay. Why should students learn the content that you teach?
Rachel: I think that all content is necessary for anyone and they’re going to need those as they go into higher grades, because it is going to foreshadow material as they move on. And not only will the content benefit them for the future but it like, helps them build as a person.
Kelly: How will you know that you have taught a successful lesson? How do you know when your students have learned what you hoped to convey?
Rachel: I think teaching a successful lesson is most important, but it is going to take time to get to that level. You just have to make sure students are engaged and they are wanting to learn this material, and that’s when they are going to be able to retain it. And, I think I’ll know if it is successful by their feedback; like if they are going to show it, whether, in their assignments afterwards or verbally after the lesson is taught.
Kelly: If I were a new student in your classroom and asked you “What do you expect from me?” how would you respond?
Rachel: I would respond by telling them just to do their best, that if you do your best in class that is sufficient. Along with doing their best, also is just following the classroom rules and procedures like everyone else, and by doing that he or she will fit right in and be a successful student.
-chatter-
Kelly: If I were a parent of a new student and I asked you to describe the learning environment in your classroom, how would you respond?
Rachel: I would respond by showing them classroom set-up. I plan on having group desk to promote collaborative learning and community. Also, having different work stations throughout the classroom, like reading areas, a library, and computers. That way they can promote learning individually and in groups. Then I will have different methods to teach to each learning style.
Kelly: Okay, what analogy would you use to describe what you hope to be as a teacher? You might answer this statement, teaching is like __(blank)___. Or teaching is __(blank)__.
Rachel: Okay, I think teaching is a full-hearted commitment. It’s not a job where you just punch-out and you don’t go back to over the weekend or when you are at home. You need to plan at home and make it one of your top priorities. Just making sure you are prepared for your lessons and that you’re understanding the materials as well as your students to make everything work.