Assignment #1 - Group B, Reflection #1

I conducted my interview with Karrie Williams, a high school senior. She is seventeen-years-old, dresses in fashionable clothing, wears a tasteful amount of makeup, and straightens her short blonde hair to perfection every morning. At five feet, ten inches tall, she stands out among her group of friends. They are an animated bunch of both girls and boys, and enjoy telling harmless jokes and stories about one another. Most of them have been friends since middle school, if not elementary school or preschool, and their close bond is obvious. Understandably, they are all eager to complete their high school careers and graduate in June, and one cannot help but adopt their hopeful outlook for the future. While Karrie may appear to be a typical high school student at first glance, her responses to my interview revealed a young woman with great insight and remarkable ambition.

Many students would agree with her claim that the best part about school is being able to see friends on a daily basis. Karrie said, “Without school, I probably wouldn’t be able to socialize with my friends as much as I do now.” Also a common response from students, Karrie said that the worst part about school is having a bad teacher. In her words, “If you have a teacher that is unable to teach their subject, it can ruin the entire year. Having a teacher you dislike can bring your grade lower, which is never good.” She also voiced her dislike for the various social groups that inevitably form in school, saying, “No matter what anyone says, there is such a thing as a ‘preppy’ group of people. I think there should not be separate groups of people where some are more popular than others.” Oftentimes, academic subjects can be troublesome as well.

When asked which subject is the most difficult for her, Karrie was quick to reply: history. She has a hard time memorizing important dates for historical events, and is unable to retain information related to history because it is a subject that does not really interest her, which makes it difficult to learn. Karrie dislikes her government/economics class because it is similar to history and she has difficulty memorizing information. She added, “Also, the teacher is always drinking energy drinks and going crazy in class. It isn’t easy to learn from a teacher who acts like one of the students. Plus, the kids in that class are always loud and disrespectful.” However, Karrie’s face lit up when asked to share about her easiest and favorite subject: art. She said that any type of art class is her easiest/favorite because “I really enjoy creating new things, especially in ceramics. Having a class where I am able to work with my hands is always my favorite.” She grinned as she recounted awards she has won in various art shows over the years.

Karrie displayed similar enthusiasm when talking about her extracurricular activities. She is currently in her third season of tennis, and takes great pride in being the number one girl on her school’s varsity tennis team. She is also a member of her school’s Earth Club, which recycles on campus and participates in various events throughout the community. The club recently became a part of the “Adopt a Highway” program, dedicating time to cleaning a portion of a highway close to campus.

After graduation, Karrie plans on attending a California State University, then possibly transferring to another college to pursue culinary education. She said that she eventually wants to own her own restaurant because “I have always loved cooking and it would be nice to own one of my own to run things how I want them.” When asked what she would need to do in order to attain that goal, she replied, “I need to get training and work hard so that I know what I am doing when it comes to owning my own business.” Her role models are her parents “because they work hard to achieve what they want.” She also added, “My dad is the one who introduced me to the cooking world.”

When asked if she feels that high school has properly prepared her for college, Karrie responded, “I feel school has helped prepare me for college. My classes were difficult enough and teachers were helpful to tell us what to expect in college. They treated us like college students so that we may become used to college classes.” She also feels that the numerous standards students are required to meet are beneficial because they push her and her classmates to reach, and potentially surpass, their goals. Similarly, Karrie approves of the use of standardized tests because they tell students how much they have learned and whether or not they need to pay more attention in school.

She said that what makes her favorite teacher a good teacher is his ability to connect with students. As Karrie elaborated, “He is able to crack jokes every now and then to keep the mood light in class. He keeps the class lively by telling interesting stories that have to do with the subject he is teaching. He is extremely helpful when it comes to students’ questions.” She said that if she were ever to be a teacher, she would be sure to make a connection with students and to never be too strict. She would want to be a likeable teacher, but not a pushover, adding “It is really hard to control a class when they do not like you.”

Karrie said that her teachers encourage students by talking about their futures and telling them how much better their futures will be if they try their hardest. When asked if she feels that her teachers care about her and her academic life, Karrie said, “I feel they do care because they want us to succeed in life because we are the future. We can change the world if we try.”

I completely agree with Karrie’s conviction that a poor teacher will lead to poor student performance. Each step in education builds upon the last and is extremely important for the next, so any delay, however brief, has the potential to be extremely detrimental to a student’s success. Teachers are a major influence on students’ lives, and must always strive to ensure that their influence is a positive one. Memorization is considerably difficult for many students like Karrie, whose response reinforces my decision to never require my students to memorize information. Seeing Karrie’s face illuminate as she spoke about her love for art strengthened my desire to make art (and other hands-on activities) an important part of my instruction, despite whatever budget crises the educational system may face in the future.

While I believe that academic standards and standardized tests are important, I feel that too much emphasis is placed on them. I will definitely do my best to prepare my students to succeed at both, while simultaneously giving them a well-rounded, wholesome education. I will also strive to develop and maintain a close connection with my students through a sharing of interests. I want to talk to them about their extracurricular activities and other related information, and I will always do my part to reciprocate. I feel that one of the most important things a teacher can do for students is talk about their futures and their boundless potential. Teachers must encourage their students to take advantage of every opportunity within their grasp, even those that may seem slightly out of reach.

Assignment #1 - Group A, Reflection #1

I chose to interview Martha Washington, a high school history teacher. She is in her sixties, wears glasses, and perms her short hair so that she does not have to fuss with it every morning. Everyone who knows her is familiar with her trademark Birkenstock sandals. Her husband teaches music in the local elementary schools, and the two are a central part of their community. Martha teaches World History, U.S. History, and European History, and her classes consist of both regular education students and Advanced Placement (AP) students. On occasion, she will have her classes close their books early and walk a few blocks up the street to the town’s doughnut shop as a reward for their good work. It is clear that she has a wonderful relationship with her students and that she is passionate about teaching.

When I asked what made her want to become a teacher, the answer was easy: her love of history. She decided to become a teacher in the hopes of passing on her passion to students. Describing her first year teaching, Martha said that she will always remember hastily eating lunch in her car while rushing between two middle schools. When she began teaching in the high school she is at now, she had to move between three different classrooms every day. Today, she truly appreciates having her own room and never takes it for granted.

This is Martha’s twentieth year of teaching, and she still loves what she does. When I asked if she had noticed the profession change since she began teaching, she replied, “My AP students are still as motivated as ever, but I think the regular education children are not as prepared for high school. They don’t talk about their parents reading to them, [and] their work ethic seems to be declining as time goes on.” Currently, her biggest challenge is “grading AP essays in a timely manner,” and while her students are always respectful, she struggles with getting them to talk less. Always the history buff, she says that talking and lecturing about history is the easiest part of her job. When asked about the most enjoyable part of her job, she responded, “Working with my AP students. They are amazing. I feel so fortunate to be able to teach them history.” Martha’s students and coworkers, as well as the fact that she is constantly learning, keep her job interesting. She also added, “And, [the fact] that we are living history.”

While she admits that it’s a challenge, she tries to relate history to her students’ lives in order to get them engaged in the class. Martha encourages her students with praise, and regularly posts the students’ grades online so that they know how they are doing in class. Laughing, she added, “I have been known to bribe them with a walk to the doughnut shop.” One of her most memorable moments includes getting a maple bar (her favorite) from an AP student for writing a letter of recommendation for them when they applied to college. She also cherishes getting letters from seniors when they write letters of appreciation to their former teachers.

When asked her thoughts on all of the standards that students are required to meet, Martha responded, “I think they are important, but there is too much emphasis on them. I leave out so much history for my regular education students because the information is not a standard. What a shame it is.” She also added that “some students do not test well and it only adds to their anxiety to have standardized tests.” Martha stresses that it is important to be a positive influence in students’ lives because they encounter so many negative influences every day.

For new teachers, she emphasizes the importance of perseverance. Her advice includes, “Don’t give up. It will get better[…] Breathe.” Martha also says that it is important to share passions with students and cultivate friendships with other teachers. She stresses that teaching cannot be about money, adding, “You will make money later.” Wisely, Martha advises, “Don’t let teaching become your life.” She shares that as a teacher, “You have to learn that no one is going to pat you on the back and say ‘good job.’ The joy comes from knowing that you have made a difference.”

What struck me most about our interview was Martha’s description of her first few years as a new teacher. I had never thought about the possibility that I may have to teach at more than one school at the same time, or that I may not even have my own classroom and thus be forced to move between multiple rooms every day. I had always been under the impression that I would be able to enjoy a relaxed lunch in the sanctuary of my own classroom. However, this caveat does not discourage me from becoming a teacher. I feel that overcoming such difficult situations is part of the job and that it makes everything even more worthwhile in the end. The fact that Martha still loves teaching twenty years later encourages me even more.

I was disheartened to hear that students have become less and less prepared for high school in the past twenty years. This sad reality further motivates me to provide students with a strong foundation during their elementary school years, and to stress to parents the importance of reading to and with their children at an early age. Being in such a position to do so, and having the opportunity to help shape students and the rest of their lives, will provide me with the hope necessary to effect change. I look forward to growing with my students and learning from each other.

One of my biggest goals has always been to relate academic lessons to my students’ lives, no matter how difficult it may be. I also realize the importance of praising students, as well as frequently updating them on their performance in the class. I have always wanted to help my students reach, and hopefully exceed, standards, but I never want to place too much emphasis on such instruction. I will also strive to evenly distribute the importance of tests, homework, etc. in an effort to confront the anxiety of those who become nervous about tests.

I know the importance of having close relationships with other teachers and the administration, as well as with students. I had always planned on sharing my passions with my students, and Martha’s comments have reinforced my belief. The main reason I want to become a teacher is so that I can make a difference in students’ lives and be a positive influence for them. For some children, every day is a struggle, and I want to help them in that fight.