Interview Project- Part 2
Shaye Todd
Interview Project: Part 2
Communication 1010-042
11/21/2011
Interview Analysis Memo
DATE: 11/9/2011
TO: Wayne C. Hackett
FROM: Shaye Todd
SUBJECT: Interview Analysis Memo, COMM 1010-042
I had the privilege to interview a Resource Teacher from Bell View Elementary School. My old roommate volunteers at this school, and told me about Tricia Smith. I then contacted her and asked if she would be willing to allow me to interview her.
I have recently changed my major to elementary education, so I wanted to interview a teacher. During the interview I found out that my interviewee teaches resource to special needs children. I instantly became more intrigued because I didn’t realize you could major in special education. I had never thought about teaching special ed, but now I am considering going into that, instead of elementary education.
This memo summarizes the useful advice I accumulated and analyzes what I learned from conducting the interview.
Summary of Lessons Learned
Getting Started in the Teaching Field
I learned that to be a teacher takes hard work, determination, patience, and dedication. Without these traits, one cannot fully succeed as a good teacher. Tricia started as a peer tutor during middle school, and high school, and found a love for helping special needs students in her service.
I learned that Utah State University has one of the better education programs in the state, and is the wise choice of schools to attend. A Bachelor’s is required to be a teacher, and USU is very affordable. I spoke to a few other teachers and they all attended this same college. I was pleased to hear this seeing as though I was just accepted there.
Tricia shared that she received a scholarship to Weber State and that is where she got her Associates. She then went up to Utah State for the next two years getting her Bachelors in Special Education. She had to do a teaching assistant internship her final year, and then was a para educator for 5 years after that. She shared with me that she makes $51,000 a year, and that to go to middle school, or the high school level you don’t make very much more than that.
A Typical Day
Tricia spoke mostly about her passion to help these little children become something in society one day. That this job means more to her then she thought it would because of the growth she gets to witness in her students every year, and the impact she is making in their lives.
Tricia’s work schedule is Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. She has all holiday’s, weekends, and summers off. They are allotted a certain amount of vacation, and sick days. She says that the substitute teaching program is a big plus when being a teacher because there is always someone to fill in for you when needed. She also talked about the perks of having a family while having a teaching career. While she has no children yet, being able to work while your children are in school, and getting off around the time they let out will be such a blessing to her.
A typical day for Tricia starts about 30 minutes before the first batch of students arrive. She has to lay out her lesson plans, go over them, get the materials needed for the day, etc. She then sees 6 groups of students for about 45 minutes each time. She delivers her lesson plan as best as the students are able to handle it. She says with special education students your plan has to be more of an outline due to their learning needs. She loves doing active student responding exercises with her students because they are really motivated. The most difficult task for her is having timed tests. The students get frustrated and give up too easily.
Tricia loves her job and cannot see doing anything else as a career even though she never thought she would love being a special education teacher as much as she does. The love that she has for her students is evident all over her class room. She has pictures they have colored or drawn hanging up all around. She has such a passion for the special needs children, and is driven to make her students become productive members of society.
Future PlansTricia is a firm believer in continuing education for teachers. She said that while it is not required to take continuing education classes it is advised. There are certain classes, or exercises they must have continue for their teaching license, but Tricia says they usually do most of them during faculty meetings. She says that the students deserve the best teacher they can get and without continuing education you won’t achieve that goal.
She is currently enrolled at school herself to obtain her Master’s degree as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. The price of her furthering education for her Masters is coming out of her own pocket. She constantly reads studies, and Behavioral journal entries as a way to get the most out of her education.
.
Interview Analysis
This interview introduced me to some new career ideas and also taught me a lot about how to conduct an interview.
Analysis of Elementary Education as my Career Choice
From this interview I learned that there is more to education then I thought there was. It makes me excited to hear of the impact that a teacher can have on the lives of their students. I also learned about different aspects of the education program that I didn’t realize existed.
Tricia suggested a speak to a couple other teachers as well so that I will see what best fits my personality in teaching.
I learned a lot from Tricia. I had no idea that resource teachers had to obtain different qualifications then normal teachers. I thought that it was a manner of a couple different classes in college but still the same degree. I didn’t realize the level of commitment that teachers have to their students, and to the world to help turn out productive, functioning members of society.
Analysis of my Interviewing Process
I am a pretty shy person when I first meet someone. I also am not a great public speaker. However, this just being a one-on-one meeting I didn’t feel that intimidated to be speaking to a stranger.
For the interview I printed out my question outline to help me stay on topic. I had reviewed the outline a few times before the meeting so I only had to look down a couple of times to remember my place. Having an outline helped me keep better eye contact and stay focused on what I was asking. I didn’t get flustered when I couldn’t remember what the next topic was because it was right there in my hand. Tricia answered all my questions without venturing too far of topic.
If I ever do another interview I would ask more questions than I did, even if they weren’t written down. I only asked a few questions that weren’t on my outline, and I think this would help the flow of conversation even better. Make it less awkward, and more of a comfortable surrounding
At the end of our interview, I felt extremely more comfortable and relaxed. Tricia made it so that I didn’t even have to glance at my ending statement. It was such a natural thing to thank her and tell her how much I appreciated her taking the time out of her busy schedule to assist me with my assignment. I then asked her if she would fill out the evaluation form, and she was pleased to do so.
I found this assignment to be more helpful in researching my future career than I thought I would. I enjoyed the opportunity to get out there and talk to someone who is actually doing what I intend to do.
Letter of Thanks
10851 So. Pampas Dr.
Sandy, UT 84094
November 10, 2011
Ms. Tricia Smith
9800 So. 800 E.
Sandy, UT 84094
Dear Tricia,
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day and allowing me to interview you. The answers you provided me were so informative and really have helped me in choosing my career path.
I truly admire the love and care you show for your students, the dedication you have for job, and the understanding of special needs you have so meticulously developed. You have helped open my eyes to the need we have of more resource teachers like you, and have made me heavily consider becoming one myself.
Again, thank you for taking time out of you busy day to help me with this project for my communications class, I appreciate it very much. I learned more than I thought I would about education which will definitely help me in my future career plans.
Sincerely,
Shaye Todd
Shaye Todd
Interview Project: Part 2
Communication 1010-042
11/21/2011
Interview Analysis Memo
DATE: 11/9/2011
TO: Wayne C. Hackett
FROM: Shaye Todd
SUBJECT: Interview Analysis Memo, COMM 1010-042
I had the privilege to interview a Resource Teacher from Bell View Elementary School. My old roommate volunteers at this school, and told me about Tricia Smith. I then contacted her and asked if she would be willing to allow me to interview her.
I have recently changed my major to elementary education, so I wanted to interview a teacher. During the interview I found out that my interviewee teaches resource to special needs children. I instantly became more intrigued because I didn’t realize you could major in special education. I had never thought about teaching special ed, but now I am considering going into that, instead of elementary education.
This memo summarizes the useful advice I accumulated and analyzes what I learned from conducting the interview.
Summary of Lessons Learned
Getting Started in the Teaching Field
I learned that to be a teacher takes hard work, determination, patience, and dedication. Without these traits, one cannot fully succeed as a good teacher. Tricia started as a peer tutor during middle school, and high school, and found a love for helping special needs students in her service.
I learned that Utah State University has one of the better education programs in the state, and is the wise choice of schools to attend. A Bachelor’s is required to be a teacher, and USU is very affordable. I spoke to a few other teachers and they all attended this same college. I was pleased to hear this seeing as though I was just accepted there.
Tricia shared that she received a scholarship to Weber State and that is where she got her Associates. She then went up to Utah State for the next two years getting her Bachelors in Special Education. She had to do a teaching assistant internship her final year, and then was a para educator for 5 years after that. She shared with me that she makes $51,000 a year, and that to go to middle school, or the high school level you don’t make very much more than that.
A Typical Day
Tricia spoke mostly about her passion to help these little children become something in society one day. That this job means more to her then she thought it would because of the growth she gets to witness in her students every year, and the impact she is making in their lives.
Tricia’s work schedule is Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. She has all holiday’s, weekends, and summers off. They are allotted a certain amount of vacation, and sick days. She says that the substitute teaching program is a big plus when being a teacher because there is always someone to fill in for you when needed. She also talked about the perks of having a family while having a teaching career. While she has no children yet, being able to work while your children are in school, and getting off around the time they let out will be such a blessing to her.
A typical day for Tricia starts about 30 minutes before the first batch of students arrive. She has to lay out her lesson plans, go over them, get the materials needed for the day, etc. She then sees 6 groups of students for about 45 minutes each time. She delivers her lesson plan as best as the students are able to handle it. She says with special education students your plan has to be more of an outline due to their learning needs. She loves doing active student responding exercises with her students because they are really motivated. The most difficult task for her is having timed tests. The students get frustrated and give up too easily.
Tricia loves her job and cannot see doing anything else as a career even though she never thought she would love being a special education teacher as much as she does. The love that she has for her students is evident all over her class room. She has pictures they have colored or drawn hanging up all around. She has such a passion for the special needs children, and is driven to make her students become productive members of society.
Future PlansTricia is a firm believer in continuing education for teachers. She said that while it is not required to take continuing education classes it is advised. There are certain classes, or exercises they must have continue for their teaching license, but Tricia says they usually do most of them during faculty meetings. She says that the students deserve the best teacher they can get and without continuing education you won’t achieve that goal.
She is currently enrolled at school herself to obtain her Master’s degree as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. The price of her furthering education for her Masters is coming out of her own pocket. She constantly reads studies, and Behavioral journal entries as a way to get the most out of her education.
.
Interview Analysis
This interview introduced me to some new career ideas and also taught me a lot about how to conduct an interview.
Analysis of Elementary Education as my Career Choice
From this interview I learned that there is more to education then I thought there was. It makes me excited to hear of the impact that a teacher can have on the lives of their students. I also learned about different aspects of the education program that I didn’t realize existed.
Tricia suggested a speak to a couple other teachers as well so that I will see what best fits my personality in teaching.
I learned a lot from Tricia. I had no idea that resource teachers had to obtain different qualifications then normal teachers. I thought that it was a manner of a couple different classes in college but still the same degree. I didn’t realize the level of commitment that teachers have to their students, and to the world to help turn out productive, functioning members of society.
Analysis of my Interviewing Process
I am a pretty shy person when I first meet someone. I also am not a great public speaker. However, this just being a one-on-one meeting I didn’t feel that intimidated to be speaking to a stranger.
For the interview I printed out my question outline to help me stay on topic. I had reviewed the outline a few times before the meeting so I only had to look down a couple of times to remember my place. Having an outline helped me keep better eye contact and stay focused on what I was asking. I didn’t get flustered when I couldn’t remember what the next topic was because it was right there in my hand. Tricia answered all my questions without venturing too far of topic.
If I ever do another interview I would ask more questions than I did, even if they weren’t written down. I only asked a few questions that weren’t on my outline, and I think this would help the flow of conversation even better. Make it less awkward, and more of a comfortable surrounding
At the end of our interview, I felt extremely more comfortable and relaxed. Tricia made it so that I didn’t even have to glance at my ending statement. It was such a natural thing to thank her and tell her how much I appreciated her taking the time out of her busy schedule to assist me with my assignment. I then asked her if she would fill out the evaluation form, and she was pleased to do so.
I found this assignment to be more helpful in researching my future career than I thought I would. I enjoyed the opportunity to get out there and talk to someone who is actually doing what I intend to do.
Letter of Thanks
10851 So. Pampas Dr.
Sandy, UT 84094
November 10, 2011
Ms. Tricia Smith
9800 So. 800 E.
Sandy, UT 84094
Dear Tricia,
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day and allowing me to interview you. The answers you provided me were so informative and really have helped me in choosing my career path.
I truly admire the love and care you show for your students, the dedication you have for job, and the understanding of special needs you have so meticulously developed. You have helped open my eyes to the need we have of more resource teachers like you, and have made me heavily consider becoming one myself.
Again, thank you for taking time out of you busy day to help me with this project for my communications class, I appreciate it very much. I learned more than I thought I would about education which will definitely help me in my future career plans.
Sincerely,
Shaye Todd