Field Experience Interview Nina Halverson Math 355 November 5, 2012

Field Experience Interview I interviewed a fifth grade girl at Spence Elementary, we will call her Penelope*. The teacher told me I could pick any student and said that Penelope is a middle of the road student. The teacher told me they would be starting decimals and fractions soon so that would be a good subject to ask questions about. Interview: 1. What is your favorite sport to play? (I hear them talking about sports all of the time) A: Can I pick two? Me: Yes! P: Volleyball and Basketball! She then went on to tell me that she has a tournament this weekend and was very excited. 2. Do you have any brothers or sisters? A: Yes, 1 brother. 3. What is your favorite subject in school? A: Can it be an extra? Me: Of course. P: Physical Education. I love to run around. 4. Can you tell me which fraction is shaded? A: One fourth. 5. Which fraction is greater? 2/9 or 3/9 A: 3/9, it is always whichever is greatest between the top numbers 6. Which decimal is bigger? .08 or .80? A: She said .08 at first, but then talked about how it was .80 because the 0 was before the 8 which made it smaller. 7. Write the amounts from greatest to least. 4.09 3.6 4.08 3.89 A: 4.09 4.08 3.96 3.89 8. What is 90/100 as a decimal? A: I am not sure, 0.09. She kept saying a lot of different numbers between 90 and 100 with different zeroes and the decimal place in different areas. 9. What is .60 as a fraction? A: She said 1/60. She also seemed confused by this answer as she said a few different fractions.

10. What fraction of the whole is shaded? A: She said looked at it confused at first but then counted the rectangles and said 1/5.

Summary: Penelope talked a lot of her answers out and really reasoned with herself. It was interesting that I gave her a piece of paper but she never wrote any of the answers out, she just talked them over. She looked at me a lot for clarification or to tell her if she was right. I told her that this was not for a grade, so not to worry. She did not know how to convert fractions to decimals, and vice versa. That is something that they learn coming up, that she probably never learned before. Penelopes comment was interesting when she said, The one on the top is always bigger. That is true if the denominato rs are the same, but it is not always true if they are not. She had probably learned this before but it did not stick with her, which is another subject that they will be learning about. She liked the questions with the pictures and telling me which fraction is shaded in. I think she liked that she could visualize the fractions. Penelope was very quick when she put the decimals in order. I took that question from the book but changed the numbers slightly. That is also something they will be learning about but she already knew. I think she gets if the number is .09 vs. .90 that the .09 is smaller because of the zero before the number. She was very talkative and wanted me to keep asking her questions.

*Penelope is made up, fictional name.