Student Interview
I was lucky enough to interview several students during my time in 5th grade. I chose to highlight this interview because I felt this student was honest and his answers will help me when I become a teacher.
1. What is your favorite subject and why?
Science and Math. I like to do experiments and projects and math games.
2. What is your favorite type of activity?
Kickball, basketball, football, baseball. I like to play sports.
3. What is your least favorite subject and why?
Social Studies and Reading. Social Studies is hard, difficult. There's too much reading and research. I don't like to read.
4. What does your teacher do that makes class interesting and fun?
We learn new things, she makes it fun. We play games in Math and get to work with partners.
5. How do you think your teacher could make class more interesting and fun?
More games and projects. It would be better if we could change our groups, we have to work with the people at our tables all the time. I want
to move around more.
6.What is your best subject? What do you think makes it your best?
Math and Science. I was born with Science in my brain.
7. What is the subject you need to work harder in? What can your teacher do to help you?
Social Studies and Reading. I think she should tutor me, maybe tell me what I'm doing wrong. More games.
8. Do you like working in groups or by yourself? Why?
Groups, we can find the answer together. More help if I don't know the answer. It's more fun too.
9. Do you have a lot of homework every night? Explain.
Some nights more than others. We have 3 mastery sheets to do every week and whatever we don't finish in class. We have to read every
night.
1. What is your favorite subject and why?
Science and Math. I like to do experiments and projects and math games.
2. What is your favorite type of activity?
Kickball, basketball, football, baseball. I like to play sports.
3. What is your least favorite subject and why?
Social Studies and Reading. Social Studies is hard, difficult. There's too much reading and research. I don't like to read.
4. What does your teacher do that makes class interesting and fun?
We learn new things, she makes it fun. We play games in Math and get to work with partners.
5. How do you think your teacher could make class more interesting and fun?
More games and projects. It would be better if we could change our groups, we have to work with the people at our tables all the time. I want
to move around more.
6.What is your best subject? What do you think makes it your best?
Math and Science. I was born with Science in my brain.
7. What is the subject you need to work harder in? What can your teacher do to help you?
Social Studies and Reading. I think she should tutor me, maybe tell me what I'm doing wrong. More games.
8. Do you like working in groups or by yourself? Why?
Groups, we can find the answer together. More help if I don't know the answer. It's more fun too.
9. Do you have a lot of homework every night? Explain.
Some nights more than others. We have 3 mastery sheets to do every week and whatever we don't finish in class. We have to read every
night.
Reflection
This student seemed to be very self aware. He knew what his best subjects were and what subjects he needed to work on. He had very clear ideas on what he likes about class instruction (games, projects, group work). He had some insightful things to say about what his teacher could do to help him. I was impressed with some of his answers and didn't expect him to be as thoughtful with his ideas as he was. While observing this student prior to the interview, I didn't think he liked class at all. After the interview, I paid closer attention to his work and class behavior. He paid more attention in the subjects he likes, math and science, and didn't really pay attention in the one he doesn't care for (I only observed Reading and not Social Studies). He stated he thought they should be able to move around when working in groups so they could work with other people not at their table. I did notice that even though the teacher stated to work with your table, he tended to wander around.
I think this student would enjoy Social Studies and Reading more if they played games or learned in a different way. I noticed the student stated that his best subjects were his favorite subjects. These were also the subjects that they worked in groups more often and did projects in.
As a future teacher, I would try to incorporate a lot of group work and interesting/different/unconventional ways to learn into all subjects. Things such as, performing or acting out reading passages, dressing up as history characters and giving speeches as if you were them, or going outside to learn about nature. Students learn better by doing hands-on activities and according to this student, they're more fun. If I can make all subjects the students favorites, hopefully they will perform well in them and learn to love them all.
I think this student would enjoy Social Studies and Reading more if they played games or learned in a different way. I noticed the student stated that his best subjects were his favorite subjects. These were also the subjects that they worked in groups more often and did projects in.
As a future teacher, I would try to incorporate a lot of group work and interesting/different/unconventional ways to learn into all subjects. Things such as, performing or acting out reading passages, dressing up as history characters and giving speeches as if you were them, or going outside to learn about nature. Students learn better by doing hands-on activities and according to this student, they're more fun. If I can make all subjects the students favorites, hopefully they will perform well in them and learn to love them all.