Questions

Interview Questions
Ingle Baran 5th grade

Coltrane Webb STEM Elementary
1. How do you write a typical lesson plan?
I usually start with the countys curriculum map and look at the
essential questions that we must cover within each unit. I then look at
what student need to know and will be able to understand to come up
with how I will get to the essential question being answered at the end
of a unit. I then pace out how long I have and how long I need for each
part of the unit.
2. What types of materials do you need available when you plan
lesson?
I basically need the countys curriculum map and unit pacing
guides to help me. I also need novel sets, mentor texts, PBLs, etc.
depending on what the unit is. For Social Studies, I need informational
text that helps support the unit we are covering.
3. In what ways do you accommodate individual differences in the
classroom?
I know where my students are academically based on running
records done at the beginning of the school year. This helps me to put
them in flexible groups. I know the students who are able to work
independently and who needs constant guidance from me. I also know
how my students tick (motivated vs. not motivated, visual, auditory, or
kinesthetic learners, who works well in partners/groups and who
doesnt, etc.).
4. What are some of your instructional challenges as a teacher?
Some of my challenges are lack of resources to refer to (for
example, we dont have a social studies text). There is also a lot to get
done on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis and there never seems
to be enough time. Lessons dont always go as planned and can
sometimes completely bomb. Getting kids motivated to learn and stay
motivated can also be a challenge at times.
5. What have been some of your instructional successes as a teacher?
I have successes everyday when I see a child light up when they
realize something new or when they are over the moon-proud-of
themselves when they do well on something. I feel successful when I
see growth not just with formal assessments but also with daily
lessons. I believe in the whole child, so seeing them growing
instructionally as well as emotionally and socially is a success for me.
6. What do you consider essential characteristics for successful

teaching?
Flexibility, patience, open-mindedness, sense of humor,
organization, structure
7. How often do your students receive social studies/science
instruction?
Science and Social Studies is taught every day with my partner
teaching science and me teaching Social Studies. It is usually during a
40-minute block of time. Along with science being taught daily in the
classroom, students also get a 60-minute block of time spend in STEM
lab each week since we are a STEM school. But since we only teach on
an A day/B day rotation, that means that students are receiving this
instruction only every other day.
8. Are you satisfied with the amount of time that you currently allot for
science/social studies instruction? Explain.
Somewhat. I am happy that in 5th grade, we are able to teach
both subjects daily, but the A day/B day rotation only gives students
this instruction every other day. With the amount of pressure on
teachers to teach math and literacy with state testing, those tend to be
the subjects that have the most amount of time allotted in daily
schedules. So I can understand why those get put on the back burner.
However, I do not think it is right. We need to do a better job of trying
to integrate these subjects into our literacy and math blocks.
9. What motivation tactics do you use to ensure a desire to learn?
I try to make learning fun for my students. I encourage them and
celebrate with them when they learn something new. I tell lots of
stories and I use lots of examples to get their attention and hopefully
keep it. I show them respect and let them know how much I care
about them and believe in them. This helps tremendously!
10. Tell me about the classroom community. What are the class rules?
How is student behavior monitored? In what ways is positive behavior
reinforced? In what ways are negative behaviors prevented? Tell me
about the consequences for negative behavior.
Class rules are covered under our schools 3 core values: Be safe,
Be respectful, Be responsible. Student behavior is monitored by always
being visible and encouraging students to be on their best behavior
even when no one is looking. Positive behavior is reinforced with
stamps on our schools behavior cards as well as other tricks I use
within the classroom (class dojo, star chart for group behavior, cones
for cleanest desk areas, prize box, notes home, etc). Negative
behaviors are prevented by encouraging the positive behaviors.
Pointing out those that are doing well in order to inspire the others to
copy them. The consequences for negative behavior can range from a
conference about making better choices to calling home to sending
them up to the office to speak with an administrator depending on the
severity.
11. Tell me about the pacing of lessons an interaction in the classroom
use of time and other aspects of timewait time, and time using
teacher talk and student talk, What works well with your students?
Pacing of lessons it first laid out according to the pacing of units
on Cabarrus Countys Curriculum Guides. Then as a grade level we put
the lessons down in our plans and adjust based on the needs of our
students. Wait time is essential in daily teachingstudents need time
to process and think about concepts and how they respond to them.
Teacher talk, although important, should be at a minimum depending
on what is being taught. Students should be doing the bulk of the
talking outside mini lesson (teacher-led) and guided practice (teacher
and student-led). My students need a variety of ways in which I do my
lessons. They respond well with me doing the bulk of talking in mini
lessons. Then we share the rolls in guided groups (math, reading, word
work). They also respond very well to working in partners and groups
in which they do the talking. Opportunities for them to inquire are also
something that they step up to and are very successful at.

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Ingle Baran 5th grade

6. What do you consider essential characteristics for successful

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