Beverly Smith

EDU 201/S. Saladino

Field Observation Teacher Interview

Interview with Ms. Hernandez

Below are excerpts from my interview with Diana Hernandez. Ms. Hernandez is a

Kindergarten teacher at Jay W. Jeffers Elementary School, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. As my

assigned mentor teacher, I had the honor to observe Ms. Hernandez and her students. Although,

due to the pandemic, all observations were done virtually, I was still able through virtual

observation, get great information on how Ms. Hernandez ran her class, and the passion for

which she has for teaching.

My recorded interview with Ms. Hernandez lasted almost 2 hours, because she has so

much passion for her profession. Below are the highlights from that interview; once again I must

state that it was an honor to not only observe Ms. Hernandez and her students, but also, she gave

me tips for the classroom, that I did record for my own future reference.

“What was the primary reason you became a teacher?”

Ms. Hernandez: “All through my childhood I was always the one to help not only

my classmates, but my teachers when my classmates did not understand an assignment. My

teacher would say “Diana can you please help them”. This occurred all throughout my time

in school, from Elementary, through High School, and even in college. I knew I was meant

to be teacher when one of my classmates told me that he would not have passed the class

had it not been for my help. Being a teacher, I guess is something I was born to be”

“What are the main challenges you face as a teacher”?

 “Convincing parents to get involved with their student's education. Every year I

have convince parents that what their children learn in Kindergarten is the foundation of

what their children will be learning for the rest of their education. In kinder, we teach

children more than letters and counting. Parents are sometimes also so busy, with jobs and

other matters, they don’t have time to invest in their children early education”.

“What is the best part of being a teacher”?

“Watching my students when they have that moment when they learn something

new. Sometimes I have students who at the beginning of year struggle with a certain

subject. When the end of the year comes, and they realize that they have overcome that

struggle, and learn that subject, that gives me joy”

“How do you determine where students sit in class”?

“I usually start by diversity. I try to mix up the seating by trying to make a mix of

students in each group”.

“How do you select members of any flexible groups?”

“I always to sit students in groups where they are the most comfortable. I believe if

the student is seated in a group where they are not comfortable, they will not have a good

learning experience. I also try to include any IEP students into other groups, but groups

where they are comfortable”

“How often do you interact with parents in person? What are the main reasons for

interactions with parents?”

“Everyday! When we were in the building I was in the classroom until 5 or 6 in the

evening meeting with parents. Now I stay after virtual class is over to meet with parents.

The main reasons for meeting with parents are to discuss any challenges their children are
having, and what we can do to help the students. Sometimes it is a behavior problem that

need addressing.”

“How much grading do you complete on a daily/weekly/basis”?

“It’s hard to say, because I am grading even on Saturdays! Every day after class,

after meetings with parents, I am grading”

“How long does it take to prepare lessons for the day/week”?

“That is also hard to say, because I can spend hours preparing lessons for each day,

or lessons for the week?”

“What procedures or strategies do you use to maximize instructional time”?

“Repetition is my best tool. When students are Early education, you must keep

repeating the information to help them get it. Over and over. Even if you give them the

answer, you must keep repeating the question. Each time their brain takes in more and

more information, putting the pieces together, until they have the whole answer. And also,

patience, patience, patience.”

“What positive reinforcements have you used successfully? What behavioral

consequences seem most effective with this age group”?

“I always give them praise when the hit a new benchmark in their learning. When

we were in the building, I would them small gifts when they so progress. I am now thinking

of ways, with the virtual learning that I can reward them. As for behavior we have a

behavior board posted in the class of yellow, purple, and red for bad behavior. My students

who land in the red, as given something to get them out of red, I don’t like time out

corners, as I don’t like separating my students from me and their peer. I have found given

them an opportunity to correct their behavior has worked many times”

 “How are specialist teachers involved in your instructional planning and process”?

“I work very closely with the IEP teachers. We work to make sure that these

students are included in each lesson, but the lessons those are presented in manner that

makes the student comfortable with the learning process. Some students have multiple

special needs, so those teachers and I meet, to ensure that lessons are geared toward

meeting those student's needs.”

“How often are you evaluated, and what measurement tool is used by the administration

for determine your teaching performing?”

“I have been in the district for many years now, so my evaluation comes once a year.

As I understand it, first year, 3, second year 2, and after that once a year. But that does not

mean that your principal will not drop into your class, at any given moment to observe

you! How you are measured is related to if your students are passing quizzes and can pass

Common Core standards. You are also observed to see if you are using teaching tools that

help your students, such as the thumbs-up if you are good, thumbs sideways if you need a

little help, thumbs down if you need a lot of help, that you saw me using with my students.

When I first started it was hard for me to remember to use that tool, but now it comes

easy.”

“What are the consequences are there if your evaluation is not favorable”?

“I have been told that an unfavorable evaluation causes the teacher to go back to

having 3 evaluations per year. If you fail 2 of those evaluations, I am told, you can be

terminated”.

“What surprised you most about teaching as a profession”?

 “The thing that surprised me the most, was the first time a student told their parent

something about me that was not true, then the parent came to the school and spoke to the

principal regarding what the student had told them. The student was removed from my

class, based upon that untruth. That not only surprised me, it hurt me, professionally. I

learned from that experience to be aware, and how to defend myself when that situation

arises”

“What drives your lesson plans? What standards do you use during lesson planning”?

“Trying to ensure that my students hit their Common Core benchmarks. I also try

to use lessons, that can capture and hold their attention, while they are learning. With

virtual learning, the district has already downloaded the lessons. I do research, for

additional lessons, and then submit them for approval”

“How do you accommodate ELL, GATE, General Ed and Special Education students”?

“For my ELL students, I am bilingual, so I am able to communicate with them using

Spanish. This also allows me to communicate with the parents. I get so much joy when I

have students who start the year unable to speak English, but by the end of the year they

are teaching their parents to speak English! I don’t have any GATE students, and I work

with IEP teachers to plan lessons that are inclusive for any Special Education students that

I may have. I also observe those students and come up with ways to help them with any

struggles they may have, such as if they have a problem identifying a letter against a black

background, I meet with them after school, and present the letter against a white

background to assist them with letter or number identification”