EDUC 417/517: PreK - 4 Mathematics Methods and Content

Field  Experience  1:  Interview  Assignment  

Overview
In this assignment you are tasked to conduct math interviews with two different students. Choose
two students who have demonstrated similar school-based math achievement (e.g., both B students).
Interview your students individually. Choose 2 sets of questions to ask each student. Use the same
interview questions for both of your students.

You will choose your interview questions from Inside Mathematics. If you are teaching students in
Grades K-2, choose a problem of the month. First choose a domain, then choose a problem of the
month that you want to use with the students. Choose a second domain and a second problem of the
month that you want to use for your interview. Ideally you will interview the students about content
with which they are currently engaged or have recently been engaged, but this is not required.

For individuals working with students in grades 3 and 4, choose a performance task. As stated
above, first choose a domain and performance task. Then choose a second performance task from a
different domain. You can attempt to use embedded scoring guidelines.

Kindergarten Link:
http://www.insidemathematics.org/common-core-resources/mathematical-content-
standards/standards-by-grade/kindergarten

Grade 1 Link:
http://www.insidemathematics.org/common-core-resources/mathematical-content-
standards/standards-by-grade/1st-grade

Grade 2 Link:
http://www.insidemathematics.org/common-core-resources/mathematical-content-
standards/standards-by-grade/2nd-grade

Grades 3 & 4 Link:

http://www.insidemathematics.org/performance-assessment-tasks

Interview Guidelines:

Set the child at ease: Ask child’s name, introduce yourself, and so forth. Explain that this interview
is an assignment for your class. Tell the child that this work will not be graded, it’s just to help you
learn how to be a good teacher.

You are interested in how the child thinks, not in how many problems the child answers correctly.
Throughout, you will be asking, “How did you get this?” or “What were you thinking?” Explain to
the child that when you ask such questions, you do not mean that the child is wrong; you just want
to understand how the child is thinking. Allow the child to use any manipulatives present at the
site. Allow the child to choose.
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 EDUC 417/517: PreK - 4 Mathematics Methods and Content

Explain why you want to tape the interview and ask for permission. Ask the child’s age, names and
ages of brothers and sisters, names of best friends, favorite things to do, and so on. You can
incorporate this information in the problems you pose. Use the family members' and friends' names
in the blanks in the problems and change the problem contexts to reflect the child's interests.

v   Remember, set a friendly tone.

v   Pay close attention to how the child feels, what the child is thinking and doing.
v   Take copious notes on your questions and what the child does and says. Or you may prefer
to record the interview.
v   Consider wait time (you may be uncomfortable with silence, but the child may not be).
v   Do not assume that the child wants a question repeated; ask. You may read the question as
many times as the child wants, (within reason) but you may NOT change the wording to
make the question easier or for any other reason.