Student Interviews

Observation: Prior to selecting this female student, I considered a few items. I had managed to make a bridge between many of the students and myself prior to the interview assignment. This student was one lady who didn't seem to be too outgoing, so I felt like asking her to help me complete this task was a good way for us to make that bridge.  She seemed to always be on task and working and never had any difficulty with the work, which is why that bridge was not built as quickly. 

Interview Questions:

• Do you enjoy school? She does enjoy school when she is fully rested. Some days drag for her.
• What kind of student are you? She described herself as a person who often is practicing procrastination. In the end, she seems to do just fine.
• What do you for fun outside of school? She is a very artistic lady and enjoys molding clay, drawing objects around her. She likes to practice shading.
• How would your classmates describe you? Her classmates generally describe her as nice, helpful, quiet in school, and mature.
• Who are you friends with? What do you and your friends do together? Her friend Jess and boyfriend Elijah are important to her. She enjoys playing Xbox or any zombie game (Which was really a surprise for me! We diverged from the interview and talked about the series The Walking Dead. I was glad to have finally made that bridge.)
• Tell me a good memory you have about school?  She'll always remember her lunch table with Alison and the events that happened at the table. Particularly a conflict with some freshmen who tried to steal her table this year.
• Tell me a bad memory you have about school? Recently her male friend, who is also in our class, was involved in a physical altercation with her boyfriend (he instigated the fight). She felt terrible for causing the situation for him.
• Describe a "good" teacher or tell me about a favorite teacher you had in the past. Her favorite teachers were hands- on teachers that taught English and photography.
• What is one thing you wish your teacher knew about you? She wanted me to know that she has a hard time with math. I told her that I'd remember that. I also told her that I'm very open and asked her to tell me when I need to repeat myself and to simplify my math when she needed it.

As a follow up, I felt that she was using the bridge that was created as a result of the interview. The next time I was in the class she was heating a chemical in a test tube for the first time. She felt security with me around during the process.

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  Observation: I originally had planned to interview a different gentlemen, who is VERY shy in my Earth Science class. The student is in a crowd of fellows who could be labeled as "at risk". Again, I wanted to make that connection. Upon asking him with the interview he declined because I didn't require him to work with me. Instead, I selected another guy in the class who is very easy to talk with. He seemed to appreciated the previous lesson that I had taught, so I thought it'd be a good idea to follow up and get some feedback. The student seems to struggle in school because of his association with the self- proclaimed "at risk" class.

Interview Questions:

• Do you enjoy school? He said, "yeah"
• What kind of student are you? He immediately referred to grade level as a way to measure the type of student he is by saying " C student. I have trouble in math and sometimes science classes." This indicates to me that he has a false self- concept. Although he has high self- esteem, the young man doesn't realize the capability of his brain. He already has obtained many skills and knowledge regarding science (such as chemical and physical properties) through his experiences. Being in the current classroom probably prevents him from developing a better self- concept.
• What do you for fun outside of school? His interests include welding (like most guys in the class who are in welding classes), wood cutting, hunting, fishing, outdoors.
• How would your classmates describe you? He says most of the classmates would say that he is joyful, playful, and has a sense of humor. (I would agree that he is light- hearted.)
• Who are you friends with? What do you and your friends do together? He is close friends with many of the guys in our classroom. He just moved to the school from another region in the state.
• Tell me a good memory you have about school? He remembers having class for 4 years in a row with one of his good friends. He thought that was cool and will always remember that.
• Tell me a bad memory you have about school? His only bad memories are from when he has failed a test because he hasn't paid any attention.
• Describe a "good" teacher or tell me about a favorite teacher you had in the past. His favorite teachers were also hands- on teachers. He mentioned that he thinks I do a great job. He enjoyed getting out of his seat during my lesson. He also felt like the content that I presented was meaningful for his life. (INSIDE I WENT YES!!!!!! :P)
• What is one thing you wish your teacher knew about you? He didn't really have an answer, so I asked him to share his life plans after high school. He had said that he wanted to continue welding or to take a profession like his fathers in oil drilling.

As a follow up, I just want to say that Brad is a patient guy who is really going to enjoy life as a result of what he has learned in high school. He enjoys earth science because the topics can be easily adapted to knowledge for his life. He also was excited to know that I am a dirt track racer in Elkins.