1. Michelle Browning Jamie Smith
TEACHER INTERVIEW
Michelle Browning
Jamie Smith

2. INTASC STANDARD DESCRIPTION AND RATIONALE
Standard #9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner. This standard is represented in this project in that I learned a lot from other teachers who have been in the profession for many years, and who have had an uncountable number of experiences from which I can gain insight.

3. DECIDING TO ENTER TEACHING Teacher A: E. O’Donnell
Why?
A love of learning, which is absolutely essential to the teaching profession
How long in the teaching profession?
15 years in elementary, 18 total including preschool
What grades?
Currently in a Montessori 6-9 class, but licensed K-8 in general education, K-12 in special education.

4. DECIDING TO ENTER TEACHING Teacher B: J. Davy
Why?
Always enjoyed working with kids, seeing kids learn and understanding a concept.
How long in the teaching profession?
1.5 years in classroom, 3.5 years ABA School
What grades?
Currently Teaches at Cornerstone Autism Center. Taught 2nd and 5th grade

5. TRAITS OF AN EFFECTIVE TEACHER
Modify curriculum to meet every student’s needs
Openness and availability
Patience
Stay current and constantly evolve
Use classroom time and classroom management effectively
Be organized
Have good communication with the given population
Age, academic level, socio-economic level
Be consistent
“Mean what you say and say what you mean”
Have a thorough understanding of your content level AND know the content of the levels before and after your own grade level
“Know where they come from and where they are going”

6. MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY OF A GOOD TEACHER
You MUST love the job.
Having determination that you are going to make lessons and have material that will benefit all of the children.
How to avoid “Burnout”
Changing!
Changing your skill set, your classroom arrangement, or even your entire class. Even if you need to change grade levels or schools, it is better than getting burned out on the job.
Having a great support system
Husband (In Ms. O’Donnell’s specific case)
Friends/Family
Administration
Having a good balance
Make sure your home life and work life are balanced, without one overtaking the other.

7. CHALLENGES FOR TEACHERS
Lack of support that you get at home. (Teacher B)
Disrespect from society.
They become the scape goat for all of society’s problems.
Teachers get the brunt on situations where children have real life issues.

8. TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
In a classroom the parents and the children should feel that they can approach the teacher
Montessori Method
Individualized and child-centered
Developmentally appropriate curriculum as opposed to the traditional curriculum which is based solely on age
Avoidance of “one size fits all” teaching; Standardization

9. TEACHING PHILOSOPHY (Continued)
Changed over the years?
Teacher A
Didn’t put in consideration of how hard it would be.
Teacher B
No, always been a Montessorian
Although, ideas about special needs has changed over the years. Feels conflicted on the practices of inclusion in special education.
Inclusion can be at the expense of the general education students in the class
Academic ability DOES NOT always align with age-group. Therefore, some inclusion students on the general education side and the special needs side are at a disadvantage
States that sometimes inclusion can be a disservice to everyone in the class and will not help integrate the special needs student into an appropriate classroom

10. CLASSROOM AND TEACHING STRATEGIES
Because classroom is Montessori it is much different from those in traditional schools
Offer choice of works
With this freedom comes responsibility
Room is divided into curricular areas so that if the students are emerged in one specific subject that day they are able to stay in one part of the room. This also helps with organization.
Respect each and every child AND their efforts fairly.
Change the classroom set-up based on the children’s needs
Make the classroom beautiful, even if done with used furniture and DIY crafts

11. EFFECTIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Be prepared!
Don’t use whole-class punishments for the misbehavior of a few students
Privately discuss inappropriate behavior with individual students
Consequences and rewards should be equal to behavior
BE CONSISTANT

12. LESSON PLANS AND STATE STANDARDS
DISCLAIMER: Montessori Education is usually privately funded and therefore not required to meet state standards.
Having worked in public school, state standards are familiar and incorporated in teaching strategies.
Standards are more of a guide for lessons rather than a list of goals.
Follow the child in his development and readiness for a lesson.
Observe when the child is ready for a new lesson and plan accordingly
Quality education is always more important than the quantity of information taught

13. MOST EXCITING ASPECTS OF TEACHING
“It’s just fun!”
Loves watching the children develop understanding, watching their academic growth and success.
Seeing the results and growth when the child understands a concept

14. MOST SUPPORT TO BE AN EFFECTIVE TEACHER FROM ANOTHER PERSON
Teacher A:
A great Montessori trainer
A good friend who has taught longer
Has worked in both private and public school also
Is able to give much insight on certain situations
Teacher B:
Taught with a couple phenomenal teachers that helped her guide her learning as a teacher and were mentors as well
Her mom’s experience and the relationships and bonds her mom had with the children since she was such an effective teacher and her inspiration .

15. INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS
Let them know they are always welcome in the classroom
Be receptive and responsive
Easy at a small private school, much more difficult in public school
FREE FOOD! Always a good motivator to get parents to come to events
Don’t overwhelm parents with information, go slow.
Remember: Many parents do not have good experiences with school. Reassure parents that you know they are good parents to their children.
Sometimes parents just need someone to listen to them
DO NOT JUDGE. Remember that there are things in your students’ lives you cannot control. Must simply focus on the positives.
Sent home newsletters weekly, skills and everything we were working on that week.
Cornerstone -notebooks are used at school to explain what they can be practicing at home as well as ed and called the parents so she had a relationship with them

16. HOW MUCH TIME IS SPENT GRADING/PREPARING
Around 2 hours per day at Montessori Garden Academy(Teacher A)
Only has 13 students without much paper homework to grade HOWEVER Montessori schools require different (expensive!) materials, so much time is spent by teachers cutting out and laminating works, preparing lessons, and finding materials to be used in the classroom
Much more at IPS. Around 3-4 hours each day!
Weekly 5-8 hours while teaching in a classroom setting. (Teacher B)

17. ADVICE FOR A FUTURE TEACHER
Eileen O’Donnell
Jennifer Davy
“Just know it is going to be hard. You have to love what you do in order to succeed. And also know that it’s never too late to change careers. Even if you decide teaching isn’t for you, you can always find something else to suit your abilities.”
“Persevere working hard ,stay positive and have thick skin, not everyone will like you and that’s okay.”
“Every new year you become a better teacher and don’t become complacent. You need to continue on growth. “

18. Work Cited E. O’Donnell, personal communication, September 13, 2013
J. Davy, personal communication, September 6, 2013