Interview Protocol and Notes
Interview Protocol (5 minutes per child)
What does education mean to you?
Why do you go to school?
How can you tell if you are learning?
What does it mean to be a good teacher?
Notes:
Student 1:
“What do education mean?” used learning instead
“learning is like when you know how to read or do adding”
child very focused on the ability to read and do arithmetic
“I go to school ‘cause I have to!”
“I like to talk to my friends, but I ain’t supposed to do that too much”
“I really do talk too much. I know that”
child says he can tell if he’s learning if he gets questions right when asked in class
“good teachers be nice and helpful” inflection like asking a question
“my mom like teachers who don’t play, like [classroom mentor]”
“good teachers help you on you work”
child seems confused to be asked these questions, like he isn’t an expert on the subject
Student 2:
“education is like school, right?”
learning is when you stay still and don’t get up too much and listen to the teachers - paraphrase
“I go to school because I like to read and I get to read everyday… [classroom mentor] have a lot of books…Also, I love you and I love [classroom mentor] and I love my friends”
“I can tell I learn in school because I get good grades.” Paraphrase: Not like [twin brother, also in class] sometimes. Sometimes he is too messy and he doesn’t learn or get good grades. He is good at math though
“good teachers are nice like you and [classroom mentor]!”
further questioning revealed many more proclamations of love and affection for us and an obvious desire to please me
Student 3:
First question seemed too difficult—unfamiliarity with word “education” made question difficult and distracting
“I go to school because my mom haves to work” went on to describe that school is fun but sometimes scary, if teachers, other students, are “not so nice”
“I like school, and sometimes I don’t even want to go home!”
“I know I am learning because I am getting more blue books” (next higher level in 100 book challenge)
“[classroom mentor] is a good teacher… so are you!”
when asked how she knew this, child got shy and looked worried she had done something wrong
later: “a good teacher helps you understand the story or how to tell the clock” (current lessons in math are on telling time)
What does education mean to you?
Why do you go to school?
How can you tell if you are learning?
What does it mean to be a good teacher?
Notes:
Student 1:
“What do education mean?” used learning instead
“learning is like when you know how to read or do adding”
child very focused on the ability to read and do arithmetic
“I go to school ‘cause I have to!”
“I like to talk to my friends, but I ain’t supposed to do that too much”
“I really do talk too much. I know that”
child says he can tell if he’s learning if he gets questions right when asked in class
“good teachers be nice and helpful” inflection like asking a question
“my mom like teachers who don’t play, like [classroom mentor]”
“good teachers help you on you work”
child seems confused to be asked these questions, like he isn’t an expert on the subject
Student 2:
“education is like school, right?”
learning is when you stay still and don’t get up too much and listen to the teachers - paraphrase
“I go to school because I like to read and I get to read everyday… [classroom mentor] have a lot of books…Also, I love you and I love [classroom mentor] and I love my friends”
“I can tell I learn in school because I get good grades.” Paraphrase: Not like [twin brother, also in class] sometimes. Sometimes he is too messy and he doesn’t learn or get good grades. He is good at math though
“good teachers are nice like you and [classroom mentor]!”
further questioning revealed many more proclamations of love and affection for us and an obvious desire to please me
Student 3:
First question seemed too difficult—unfamiliarity with word “education” made question difficult and distracting
“I go to school because my mom haves to work” went on to describe that school is fun but sometimes scary, if teachers, other students, are “not so nice”
“I like school, and sometimes I don’t even want to go home!”
“I know I am learning because I am getting more blue books” (next higher level in 100 book challenge)
“[classroom mentor] is a good teacher… so are you!”
when asked how she knew this, child got shy and looked worried she had done something wrong
later: “a good teacher helps you understand the story or how to tell the clock” (current lessons in math are on telling time)