Teacher Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdWVhZFKn-0
I felt that after interviewing Dr. Patricia Ann Malopsy I was able gain some important information when thinking about how to manage a classroom. The most important idea that she stressed was to gain as much experience as possible. She truly believes that experience will always be the best recipe for knowledge and classroom management skills. She informed me that it was extremely important for her to gain many experiences from volunteering or internships in order to gain superb classroom management skills. Personally, I believe that she is truthful because I love to learn from observing or from getting involved. I like to connect with people from interacting and getting involved. I believe that books can be helpful when it comes to vocabulary, statistical studies, critical thinking; but in order to truly handle a situation one must get involved. Dr. Malopsy made some connections to the text. My first connection from the Woolfolk text comes from page 501, " effective teachers carefully follow student's progress and do not allow students to avoid work without consequences". Dr. Malopsy was specific about not giving her student extra help or what they need if they decided to act out. She knows her students and uses specific techniques for each one in order to gain their focus and get them back on track if they decide to slack off or misbehave. She knows that a certain student will beg her for help and regain focus if she uses her technique. I enjoyed her input on how she believes that it is very important to get to know each student. She believes that unsuccessful or inexperienced teachers do not put the extra time in to get to know each individual student. I love to get to know people and I try to connect all of the time so I believe I can be successful in that aspect. On page 268 in the Woolfolk text there was a token system for solving behavioral problems mentioned. Successful academics and good behavior can earn a student a token and that was mentioned in the text. I discussed reward systems with Dr. Malopsy and she mentioned that it worked in her elementary teaching experiences but she used it as something special for students and not something that was always given to them. She liked to give the students alternatives for success and if they worked on their weaknesses then they earned a reward. I like that and would use that as an option for students or athletes. If an athlete struggles in one area of their game I would reward them for working very hard on that weakness. I believe that if students work on their weaknesses and try to get better at the best of their ability then of course a reward would be a great way to show them that they earned it. I have a great example from high school. I was a good ballplayer but I struggled to keep my body healthy for a full season. I changed my training program mid-season and decided to run 5 times a week. My conditioning actually benefitted my whole body and it allowed me to stay healthy. I was awarded with a speech and an all area award from my coach and he recognized my hard training. I will never forget those rewards but of course when it applies to a classroom it is important to recognize students that work on their weaknesses and try to make a change. "When parents and teachers share the same expectations and support each other, they can create a more positive environment and more time for learning" (Woolfolk, p. 521). Dr. Malopsy discussed the importance of parents when it pertains to a student's behavior. She strongly believes that the parents influence the way a student will behave but she also believes that there should be interactions between parents and teachers. She likes to involve the parents in positive school events or even conferences that show them the positives of their child's involvement in class. She deals with low-income, poverty, violent, and sometimes criminal related family members of students so it is not a walk in the park when she tries to involve them in the student's education. She tries her best to connect in a positive way and play the role of a parent whenever she has a chance and I have seen it first-hand. She donated clothing and has provided food for students who do not have a parent to depend on. She is sometimes hard on her students when they screw up because she has seen their parents defend wrong-doings of their child. I would definitely try to get to know my students' or athletes' parents in order to create a better environment for them. This interview taught me so much and I understand the importance of experience when it comes to managing a classroom.
I felt that after interviewing Dr. Patricia Ann Malopsy I was able gain some important information when thinking about how to manage a classroom. The most important idea that she stressed was to gain as much experience as possible. She truly believes that experience will always be the best recipe for knowledge and classroom management skills. She informed me that it was extremely important for her to gain many experiences from volunteering or internships in order to gain superb classroom management skills. Personally, I believe that she is truthful because I love to learn from observing or from getting involved. I like to connect with people from interacting and getting involved. I believe that books can be helpful when it comes to vocabulary, statistical studies, critical thinking; but in order to truly handle a situation one must get involved. Dr. Malopsy made some connections to the text. My first connection from the Woolfolk text comes from page 501, " effective teachers carefully follow student's progress and do not allow students to avoid work without consequences". Dr. Malopsy was specific about not giving her student extra help or what they need if they decided to act out. She knows her students and uses specific techniques for each one in order to gain their focus and get them back on track if they decide to slack off or misbehave. She knows that a certain student will beg her for help and regain focus if she uses her technique. I enjoyed her input on how she believes that it is very important to get to know each student. She believes that unsuccessful or inexperienced teachers do not put the extra time in to get to know each individual student. I love to get to know people and I try to connect all of the time so I believe I can be successful in that aspect. On page 268 in the Woolfolk text there was a token system for solving behavioral problems mentioned. Successful academics and good behavior can earn a student a token and that was mentioned in the text. I discussed reward systems with Dr. Malopsy and she mentioned that it worked in her elementary teaching experiences but she used it as something special for students and not something that was always given to them. She liked to give the students alternatives for success and if they worked on their weaknesses then they earned a reward. I like that and would use that as an option for students or athletes. If an athlete struggles in one area of their game I would reward them for working very hard on that weakness. I believe that if students work on their weaknesses and try to get better at the best of their ability then of course a reward would be a great way to show them that they earned it. I have a great example from high school. I was a good ballplayer but I struggled to keep my body healthy for a full season. I changed my training program mid-season and decided to run 5 times a week. My conditioning actually benefitted my whole body and it allowed me to stay healthy. I was awarded with a speech and an all area award from my coach and he recognized my hard training. I will never forget those rewards but of course when it applies to a classroom it is important to recognize students that work on their weaknesses and try to make a change. "When parents and teachers share the same expectations and support each other, they can create a more positive environment and more time for learning" (Woolfolk, p. 521). Dr. Malopsy discussed the importance of parents when it pertains to a student's behavior. She strongly believes that the parents influence the way a student will behave but she also believes that there should be interactions between parents and teachers. She likes to involve the parents in positive school events or even conferences that show them the positives of their child's involvement in class. She deals with low-income, poverty, violent, and sometimes criminal related family members of students so it is not a walk in the park when she tries to involve them in the student's education. She tries her best to connect in a positive way and play the role of a parent whenever she has a chance and I have seen it first-hand. She donated clothing and has provided food for students who do not have a parent to depend on. She is sometimes hard on her students when they screw up because she has seen their parents defend wrong-doings of their child. I would definitely try to get to know my students' or athletes' parents in order to create a better environment for them. This interview taught me so much and I understand the importance of experience when it comes to managing a classroom.
Dr. Malopsy seems like a very knowledgeable and experienced educator with a wealth of useful information to learn from. I especially like her emphasis on getting to know each student. That is so important for every teacher. How can you meet each student's needs if you don't really know each student?
ReplyDeleteI like Dr. Malopsy's view on a parent's effect on student behavior. I agree that a parent can strongly influence a student's behavior in the classroom. I also think environment in general plays a huge role in students' behavior. I think the role of a parent varies from student to student when it comes to involvement in the classroom as well as at home and that makes a difference too.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed her prospective on rewards. It's a different approach than what is common place. It's not rewarding students for what is already expected of them, but rather rewarding them for working hard on a shortcoming. I wonder what critics of a traditional rewards system would feel about this type of rewards system.
ReplyDeleteI really like how she emphasized the idea that experience is the recipe for success as you put it. I think that sometimes teachers spend so much time worrying about what is right and what is wrong but really all they need to do is just let it be and see how things work for awhile and then they learn from the things that they implemented. I learned a lot from Dr. Malopsy's interview she talked a lot about different classroom management techniques. I think that sometimes parents think that the only thing that matters is what happens at school with the teachers and students. But, parents have an important role in the education process too. The parents are going to influence how the students will act and what their values are but it is the teachers job to get the parents involved in their child's progress and let them know that they are very important in the education process.
ReplyDelete