Alyssa Lombardi

Field Experience #3

Mr. Cheeseman

Interview with Teacher

My cooperating teacher is Mrs. Donna McGough. She teaches 5th Grade at Wedgwood

Elementary School. She has been a teacher for 15 years. This is her 13th year at

Wedgwood.

1. What grading procedures do you use?

Students are assessed using a variety of categories. Formative grades are tests and major
assessments. Summative assignments are quizzes, projects and measurements of key
concepts. Supportive assignments are classwork, exit tickets and supplementary assignments
are homework and smaller class room activities. Each marking period, students earn over 25
grades in the above categories to provide them with an opportunity to be assessed in different
ways in a hierarchy of categories.

2. Are there any English Learners in the class?

No. In the elementary schools in WT, Bells is the only school with ELL learners.
3. Are there any students who have special needs I should be aware of?
Of my 44 students, 10 have IEPs and 12 are Basic Skills students. A binder with all their
required modifications is referenced to ensure that all needs and modifications are being met.
4. What are some ways you differentiate instruction?
Each lesson is differentiated to meet the needs of all learners. Math is taught in stations and
students are grouped according to ability to permit enrichment or remediation in small
group. Homework is differentiated daily. Project requirements are modified for lower level
learners and enriched for gifted and strong academic students.
5. Will you please explain your philosophy concerning classroom discipline?
Discipline and structure are necessary for students to learn. I believe that all students should
respect each other and not disrupt the learning of the other students. In the beginning of the
school year, expectations are set, rules and procedures explained, and students are held
accountable for acting respectfully. If they break the rules or choose not to follow procedures,
consequences are given such as parent conferences, phone calls or removal from class.
6. What behaviors do you discourage and encourage?
Students need to feel like they are a valuable member of the classroom. I encourage students to
participate, to treat others with respect and to exhibit strong character traits. Empathy is also
expected. Disrespect is not tolerated, as students need to be respectful to everyone they interact
with.

7. How do you maintain active communications with parents?

In some cases, daily emails are necessary for students with behavior or performance
concerns. Parent conferences are scheduled as needed. Remind messages are sent several
times per week to keep parents in the loop about upcoming academic assignments or
assessments.
8. What techniques do you use to motivate students?
I strive to instill intrinsic motivation in all of my students. Students need to take pride in their
work, to put forth their best effort and to feel a sense of accomplishment. Verbal praise,
individual conferences and rewards (stickers, prizes) are also motivators for some students.
9. What are the special challenges of teaching this subject or grade level?
Fifth grade is an interesting year, as the students are transitioning from elementary school to
middle school. This is a huge year for physical development and puberty. For the first time,
students are attracted to each other and are not sure how to handle these feelings. Additionally,
many students have cell phones in fifth grade, and they are experimenting with social media for
the first time. They are not proficient in the social media etiquette and often find themselves in
bullying or harassment situations.
10. How would you describe your school’s culture/climate?
I would like to think that Wedgwood’s culture and climate are positive. Teachers and staff
attempt to create a “family environment” were students feel safe. We also try to provide as
many opportunities to show that learning is fun. I would like to believe that our students enjoy
coming to school.
11. How important are standardized test scores to your school?
Standardized testing is important only to the staff and administration as we are evaluated on how
well our students perform on these tests. Students and parents do not care at all about these tests,
causing lower test scores.
12. What is your favorite part about teaching?
I love my job and enjoy coming to work every day. In fact, I don’t call it work, I call it
school. I laugh every day and truly enjoy being a part of my student’s lives. Teaching is an
amazing profession, and when you realize that you have impacted someone’s life, there is
nothing more rewarding.
13. What is your favorite subject to teach?
I enjoy teaching Math and Science because there is so many opportunities for group or partner
work that involves hands on learning. In my opinion, students perform best when they can take
ownership for their own learning.
14. If you didn’t teach 5th grade, what would grade would you want to teach?
I would teach middle or high school as I enjoy working with young adults on challenging
content. My personality and teaching style seem to be effective with the upper elementary
students.
15. What is an aspect that you would change about your classroom?
I would love to have more space to provide flexible seating and lab tables.
16. Did you find it difficult to teach your students on an daily basis?
Teaching has ups and downs. There are great days and days you would like to do over. I find
that by planning each lesson is integral to the success of my day. Some content is much more
difficult to teach than other, so finding a creative way to ensure the students master the objective
is the challenging part. I work before the students arrive, after they leave, at night and on the
weekends to ensure that my days run smoothly. Of course, there are things that
are unpredictable, but you learn from them and do it better the next time. To me, teaching is not
difficult, it is the best job that I could have!
Alyssa Lombardi

Field Experience #3

Mr. Cheeseman

Interview with Teacher

Conclusion of Interview

I had my cooperating teacher as my 5th grade teacher, so I wasn’t very surprised by her

beliefs and teaching styles since I was once a student in her classroom. I did learn that there are

no English Language Learners in Wedgwood. If you need that, then you would have to go to

Bells Elementary School, which surprised me. I also didn’t realize how many of her students had

IEPs and were special needs. Some students needed to sit up front or be able to get a drink when

he/she needed to. I didn’t know so much information goes into an IEP and how important they

are. When Mrs. McGough showed me the binder with the IEPs, it was astonishing. I did not

know a lot of things about my students until then. I liked how she uses differentiated instructions

in different subjects. She uses stations in math. The station group you are in is according to your

abilities which I find incredibly productive. The students who need extra help get that extra help

all in one shot. She believes that all students should respect each other and not disrupt ones

learning, which I 100% agree with. Something else that I learned, was that if you misbehave, it is

an immediate parent conference, parent call home, or removal from class. When I was there, you

either lost recess right away or you were sent to study center. Mrs. McGough also uses

stickers/prizes to motivate the students. I agree with this because the students need to feel like

they are doing good and take pride in their academic abilities. She also discussed the challenges

that come along with teaching 5th grade. She explained how they are going through puberty and
they are just starting to have feelings for other people which is hard to control. It is a hard

transition age where they are getting ready for middle school. In all, she taught me to go with the

flow and have fun.