InTASC Standard Three: Learning Environments

The teacher works with others to create environments that support

individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive
social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self
motivation.

Name of Artifact: Teacher Interview

Date: October 10, 2013
Course: EDUC 101: Introduction to Teaching

Brief Description: Interviewed a current or past teacher to obtain knowledge and

advice about the profession.
Rationale:
When interviewing an educator, I received advice and techniques on how to
create and improve the educational and social environment of the classroom. I was
using positive social interaction with the teacher I interviewed to find out what
teaching is like for her. By collaborating with her I learned that teaching is
sometimes a challenge and that in order to overcome the challenge goals need to
be set and accomplished. This assignment made me think more about my goals of a
classroom and how I will reach each and every one of them. I took this assignment
as a way to increase my knowledge about the profession and as a self motivator to
become a better teacher.

Teacher Interview
Interviewer: Carlie Guritz
Jill Steiner, Speech and Drama Teacher, 24 years
1. What made you want to become a teacher?
I wanted to still be involved in drama and speech, which I did in high school. I liked
directing, puzzling out things and putting them together. Teaching allowed me to be
involved in all of that.
2. What are the most exciting aspects of teaching? Most challenging?
No matter the assignment, the groups of students you have are different each time, from
class to class and year to year. This means that you have to constantly change and adjust.
I like the challenge
3. How do you know youre successful?
I could judge by scores on assignments, but a quicker, easier judge is by the looks on the
faces of my clientele"
4. How do you define teaching?
Teaching is offering knowledge, skills, growth to students, and continually working to
figure out how to best sell that package
5. What advice would you offer a future teacher?
I tell new teachers to NOT get into the business to make a difference or an impact or
because you LOVE your subject. You have to LOVE people and puzzles, because that is
what we deal with
6. How do you help students experience success?
I think that students need to have ownership but also to be held accountable. It is in that
balance that they succeed
7. How do you individualize instruction for students?
That is very hard. I can explain what I want different ways, I can offer a variety of
assessments through the semester (tests and projects, for example). I think that one
CAN'T individualize to 25 people, per hour, in 45 minutes. They have to bend to you,
too.
8. What procedures do you use to evaluate student progress besides using tests?
I will do extra questions, either on note cards or orally. I also watch for trends in grades
9. How do you collaborate with your colleagues?
Talk when you can: hall duty, lunch....We are busy with extracurricular activities so we
don't have a lot of time before or after school, and meeting times provided by
administration is usually about what they need, not your colleagues.

10. What do you feel is the most effective way to communicate with parents?
Calling or email. As a high school teacher, I usually do not have to communicate with the
parents unless for the theater productions.
11. How do you integrate technology into the curriculum you teach?
This is a frustrating question, because you really should ask what do you do when the
tech doesn't work, internet doesn't work, etc. Getting ideas to use gadgets is easy; having
a plan B always is tiring. I do handle various amounts of technology in drama class, but
like I said they dont always work the way I wanted.
12. Describe your teaching style and how you accommodate the different learning styles of the
students in your classes.
I am very project based. I am very coach like. I don't always do tests or papers. I do
projects, short answer questions. In speech we have a variety of things: research based,
emphasis on writing, or creativity.
13. In what ways do you keep students on task and well behaved during collaborative group
activities?
Daily goals. You have to have daily goals for projects and then have a checkpoint something they must submit, for example
14. What are your plans for continuing your professional growth?
Right now, the way education is set up in Indiana and my school, we have so many
meetings all the time giving out info on the latest and greatest ideas.
15. Tell me about the people who have most influenced your own education and educational
career.
Teachers who I have had, students who succeed despite the struggles in their life.
16. Describe the management strategies and techniques you use to maintain an effective
classroom environment.
I have standards, I communicate them, and I expect no excuses. I make them do and
quitting is not an easy option to take. It is a tone set.