Running head: TEACHER INTERVIEW

Teacher Interview Project

Tiffany Davis
Ivy Tech Community College

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InTASC Standards Rationale Page

Standard #1: Learner Development
The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning
and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional,
and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging
learning experiences.

Name of Artifact: Teacher Interview Project

Date: October 4, 2016
Course: EDUC 101 Introduction To Teaching
Brief Description:
I have conducted a teacher interview with Ms. Jennifer Kaufman. In this interview, I
asked questions about the daily aspects of a teacher. A few examples are how to handle students
when behavior problems occur? How to handle confidentiality when it comes to the students.
How to keep communication between herself and the parents. I have chosen a 3rd grade class at
Pleasant Run Elementary School, Indianapolis, IN. It begins with assessing students
knowledge, builds on the interests of students, and focuses on development. A highlight of the
interview was when Ms. Kaufman said her 26 students are like her 26 kids.

Rationale:
To document my understanding of InTASC Standard 1, Learner Development, The
teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and
development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic ,social, emotional, and

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physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging
learning experiences. I have selected standard one because it ties in with a teacher learning to
teach their students. This assignment demonstrates my ability to summarize what I have learned
and apply it to myself. When conducting the teacher interview I found that Ms. Kaufman truly
cares from the heart for her students.
Introduction
Ms. Jennifer Kaufman became a teacher later on in life. She was first a church mentor
that taught church camp who then became a musical teacher. Ms. Kaufman had an undergraduate
degree already but went to Marian College to obtain her teaching degree in Elementary
Education. Ms. Kaufman has been teaching for about four years at Pleasant Run Elementary. She
taught fifth, third, and now fourth grade, but likes the fifth graders a little more because they are
a little bit older.
Teacher Responses
According to Ms. Kaufman, the essential qualifications a teacher should have are to enjoy
being a teacher who enjoys kids. Teachers have to be hard workers and willing to put in the time.
A teachers job goes beyond the normal eight to five hours a day because there is always
something that needs to be done for students. The teachers have to realize there are many after
hour's days that will take place. In order to maintain confidentiality and liability issues when
talking to the parent Ms. Kaufman does not give out the student sex nor their name. She does not
talk about another student with a parent. To support her students and their family Ms. Kaufman
sends home site words that the students can practice. She also sends homework home that they
are able to do on their own. In order to develop a family teacher partnership she tries to keep in
contact with parents as frequently as possible. She makes sure that graded work goes home and

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that parents are asked to sign important documents and return them to school. She will also call
and talk with parents about good and bad behavior. In extreme cases, she will set up a parent
conference with the student to find solutions. According to Ms. Kaufman, from her own
perspective and observations, diversity plays a part with many parents from their struggled in
school when they were young. As adults, they struggled with putting an emphasis on education
for their kids or struggle with being able to help their child. She believes that schools, especially
in high poverty areas, need to employ parent liaisons to help support school families.
Compare/Contrast
In the same way according to Ms. Kaufman, the essential qualifications a teacher should
have are enjoying working with children. Being around the children on a daily base and willing
to put in the hard work. To maintain confidentiality I agree that she calls the children parents but
does not give out the student sex nor their name. I also like that she does not talk about another
student with a parent. I agree when homework is sent home the student should be able to do it on
his or her own. Likewise sending home sight words that the students can practice on their own is
a wonderful idea. As to develop a relationship with the parents, Ms. Kaufman tries to keep in
contact with parents as frequently as possible. I agree that graded work goes home and that
parents are asked to sign important documents and return them to school. I also like that she calls
and talks with parents about good and bad behavior. Although diversity plays a role in school,
parents may still struggle with helping their children in homework. In COMMUNICATION
STYLES, Joni Rose states, ". . .it is important to understand how your communication style is
interpreted by others to avoid miscommunication and misunderstandings. The goal is
communicate with assertion and avoid an aggressive, passive-aggressive or passive of

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communication," (Rose/2007/) and I believe I will learn this trait more as my education growth
goes on.
Personal Belief System
I accept how Ms.Kaufman likes to help her students in more than one way. In order to reach out
and contact the parents Ms.Kaufman sends out personal emails to each one. This way parents
have a better communication process. Parents are also able to keep up with what goes on in the
classroom on a consistent basis. I believe keeping commutation with the school and teachers is
key for parents. Commutation allows parents to know how well or poorly their child is doing in
the classroom. I believe Ms.Kaufman does a phenomenal job not only teaching her students but
having a caring heart as well. I believe her teaching methods are at the top of the chart. Which is
why I do not have anything to disagree with.
Personal Ethics, Morals and Value System
In order to maintain confidentiality and liability issues when talking to the parent Ms. Kaufman
does not give out the student(s) gender nor their name(s). She does not talk about another student
with a parent. I believe the process Ms.Kaufman follows is fantastic! In my opinion, it is
important to call and notify parents of their child actions when needed. While Ms. Kaufman is
speaking to the parents she does not give off any extra information about the other student.
Examples the gender is not given nor is the name.
Reasons for Becoming a Teacher
Throughout my life of education, I have come across some amazing teachers. Some have
inspired me to become a teacher by the many different ways of love and caring that was showed
to me. I do not have a disability but it may take me longer to do an assignment then it does other
students. I may need that one-on-one time to fully get the whole picture. I have to read passages

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three or four times to make sure I understand the material clearly. After almost seven years of
being out of school, I was encouraged to go back. I will admit at first I was scared but soon over
came my fear. In 2013, I found myself in school as a part-time student but in January of 2015, I
became a full-time student. I quit my State job in order to focus on school mainly. Today I look
at myself and see how far I have come into making my future brighter. Some may ask, Why do
you want to become a teacher? One day I want to become that teacher a student remembers for
going the extra mile. I want students to see just because it may take them a little longer to
understand their work it can be done. I want to show students I am a living witness anything is
possible.
Conclusion
To sum it all up in this Teacher Interview Project I interviewed a third grade teacher by
the name of Ms. Jennifer Kaufman. She is a teacher at Pleasant Run Elementary where she has
been for the past four years. The overarching theme is take pride in what you as a teacher does
for your students. A student will not have a quality educational experience, when the teacher
does not have caring ways and love.

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References

Rose, J. (2007). Communication Styles

Kaufman. (2016).Teacher Interview

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Notes

1. Tell me about yourself as a teacher.

i. Why did you decide to enter teaching? Ms. Jennifer Kaufman became a
teacher later on in life. She was first a musical teacher who then taught
church camp. Ms. Kaufman had an undergrad already but went to
Marion to obtain her teaching degree.
ii. How many years have you been teaching? Ms. Kaufman has been teaching
for about four years now.
iii. What grade levels and/or subject areas have you taught? Ms. Kaufman has
taught 5th ,3rd and now 4tn grade. She like the 5th graders a little more
because they are a little bit older.

2. Explain what you believe to be the essential qualifications a teacher should have and

identify the personal demands in which the profession has on you as a person in
general (this can be over the course of an academic year or as simple as the demand
on a weekly basis). Ms. Kaufman believes you have to enjoy being a teacher who
enjoys kids. Teachers have to be hard workers and willing to put in the time. A
teacher job goes beyond the normal 8-5:00 because there is always something
that needs to be done for her students. The teachers have to realize there are
many after hours days that will take place.

3. How do you maintain confidentiality and liability issues within your classroom when

dealing with parents? When there is a serious situation between two students Ms.
Kaufman calls both of the children parents. In order for her to keep it

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confidentiality when talking to the parent Ms. Kaufman does not give out the
student sex nor their name. She does not talk about another student with a
parent.
4. How do you support the family of your students in their home? (If the teacher

doesnt, have him/her share his/her reasoning behind this decision). Ms. Kaufman
supports the families by sending home site words that the students can practice.
She also sends homework's home that they are able to on their own.
5. How have you developed the family teacher partnership? Does this approach differ
from families that are from a different cultural background than your own? If so, in what ways?
Ms. Kaufman tries to keep in contact with parents as frequently as possible. She makes
sure that graded work goes home and that parents are asked to sign important documents
and return them to school. She also call and talk with parents about good and bad
behavior. In extreme cases, She will set up a parent conference with the student to find
solutions. This approach is not different from her own cultural background. Despite
different cultures, teachers and parents need to work together to support students in
whatever way they need.
6. What role have you seen diversity play within your school or in education on a national scale?
Answering from Ms. Kaufman own perspective and observations, many parents from their
school struggled in school when they were young. As adults, they struggled with putting an
emphasis on education for their kids or struggle with being able to help their child. I think
that schools, especially in high poverty areas, need to employ parent liaisons to help
support school families. This is not a priority for education on a district, state, or national
scale.

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