1. The Big Interview Amy Fouts EDU 650 Teaching, Learning, and Leading in the 21 st Century Instructor Richard Newman

2. Introduction My name is Amy Fouts and I am the perfect candidate for the 6 th grade teaching position that you have open. I hold my Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education administration and I am currently working on my Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis on family and community studies.

3. Philosophy of Education My educational philosophy stems from an Early Childhood theory from Maria Montessori. The Montessori method helps create “life-long self-directed learners with the goal of education as the development of a complete human being, oriented to the environment, and adapted to his or her time, place, and culture” (Grant). As a teacher my students can expect honesty, respect, kindness and responsibility from me. I will empower and inspire my classroom all while developing my student’s potential. The children will know what is expected of them. We will all talk, listen, coach and model for one-another. We will build secure relationships and create a classroom community. Opportunities and choices will be a daily given thing. By doing so, I am giving the students opportunities for success as well as fostering independence and cooperation within the classroom.

4. Classroom Management Plan “Effective management is about supporting students to manage themselves throughout daily learning and activities” (Jones, Bailey, & Jacob). Creating, planning and preparing engaging and appropriate activities and transitions for the children is one goal towards my classroom management plan. Being confident in the plan for the day, including down time and transitions, is a smart way to start preparing for classroom management before the students even arrive. Building quality relationships with the students in the classroom that are also strong in trust and respect, help set the stage for overall classroom respect and management. “If students feel loved and are provided with sufficient choices, they will become responsible citizens with appropriate behaviors” (Newman). Another main aspect for my classroom management plan is the daily environment where student learning takes place. How the room is arranged, the materials available, and the routine they follow all help in the flow of the classroom community. Everyone, teacher and students, will work together and challenge one another through collaboration, engagement and support. The final aspect of my classroom management plan is simply that it is subject to change. A good plan is reassessed and refined at various times. What may work one week with the students may not work the following. This correlates with the relationship building piece of the management plan. As the year goes on, knowing your students will be the best way to manage the class as a whole.

5. School Models Traditional Public School Children in attendance based on attendance zone. Uses Common Core State Standards Credentialed teachers State Funded Charter School Under performance contract, free of many ‘traditional’ rules Not bound by attendance zone Focuses on new teaching methods Funded by grants and some state funding

6. Effective Lesson Planning Learning objectives- I will create learning objectives that help the children develop understanding by making sure they are “clear, complete and specific enough to be measureable” (Newman). I will use Common Core State Standards to set objectives. Resources-I will make sure to gather all of the information needed to complete each lesson. I will in turn think about the students prior knowledge, collaborate with co-workers, and research ideas on line. Plan the learning activities- Figuring out what activities I will do to engage the children while being relevant and guiding them to understand the objective that is being taught is crucial to my planning. I will think about the different types of learners in my classroom and how I will help them understand the objective better. Framework for Assessment- Once I have developed different activities to teach the objectives, I will make sure there is a way to check for the students understanding. I will write down the different ways I can either see (in written work), questions I can ask, or other ways the students can demonstrate their learning. Thinking of specific things for each objective will help meet this goal. Students Role-Throughout all of my lesson planning, keeping the main focus on the students is key. Giving feedback and assessing their learning and where they feel they are is critical in what comes next in the planning process. By the students being active participants in their learning they are set up for success and engagement.

7. Assessment Matters The term “assessment refers to the process used to determine in measureable terms, the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs of the learner” (Newman). When assessing students, the purpose behind it is everything and the assessments must be valid, reliable, and transparent. There are two main types of assessments; summative and formative. Both of these types of assessments hold value. Summative is the assessment of learning and formative is the assessment for learning. When I envision my classroom, I see myself using both types of assessments but most particularly formative. I know that summative assessments are needed and necessary for school purposes as well as grading. Summative assessments can turn into formative. If a child does poorly on a summative assessment that does not mean that the learning for that area has to be done. I want to take that information and turn it into something useful. I wish to engage my students in activities that teach them how to gather information about their own learning, how to assess their own growth. Two stars and a wish is a great example of this that I would like to use in my classroom. With two stars and a wish, my students will be able to communicate with me and other classmates, two things they have learned and one thing they need to learn more about. By doing so they are reflecting on their own learning, I can assess where to take them next, and it opens the door for collaboration and team work within the classroom so they can help one another as well.

8. Professional Learning Communities Building a community of teachers that share, collaborate, and inspire one another is a very important aspect of teaching to me, when it comes to teaching in a school district. “Professional learning communities offer an infrastructure to connect individuals and a way of creating an organization that is dedicated to collaboration and continual learning” (Newman). The whole purpose is to about improved student learning. After meeting with colleagues, I plan on taking knew knowledge and ideas back into my classroom to ensure better results for my students.

9. References Grant, E. (2015). The Pink Tower Meets the Ivory Tower: Adapting Montessori Teaching Methods for Law School. Arkansas Law Review (1968-Present), 68(3), 603-667. Jones, S.M., Bailey, R., & Jacob, R. (2014). Social-emotional learning is essential to classroom management. Phi Delta Kappan, 96(2), 19. doi:10.1177/0031721714553405 Newman, R. (2013). Teaching and learning in the 21 st century: Connecting the dots. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.