Observation Document

Interview with Stephanie Drake a Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher at
Turner Elementary School

1. What ways do you find yourself reflecting on your teaching practices? For example do you think your conversations with your
colleagues, journal writing, examining student work, conversations with your students, or just thinking about your teaching for the
day?
Colleagues were a big part of how Stephanie Drake was able to reflect on her teaching practices. She did not have a journal to
reflect with, she just took part in a lot of thinking and planning which she would reflect through videos where she recorded herself
teaching/giving lesson plans. Mrs. Drake highly recommends recording yourself while doing a lesson so that you can watch it back
to see what you did great, horrible, what you could work on, etc.
2. How does reflecting on your teaching practices drive your future instruction?
Video-tape instructing and looking back at the data planning from that made it easier for Mrs. Drake to reflect both forwards and
backwards (crucial to know assessments, make predictions, and plan for the future).
3. What method do you use to keep track of grades and homework completion?
Performance Plus, allowed Stephanie Drake to have a virtual grade book with assignments, including papers and assessments.
Mrs. Drake has now told me that she is movie more towards the portfolio type of keeping track of grades and homework
completion.
4. What assessment does the district use to determine a students ability at the beginning of the year and what assessment is used to
determine progress? Do you use any other forms of classroom assessment to determine academic progress?\
The District uses Mide for Spanish and Tel (Test of Early Literacy) for English (*BIG*): 1. Letter sound fluency 2. Letter naming
three times a year, but does it five times a year with four sub categories 3. Syllables 4. Syllables and reading fluency: A.) Local B.)
More fluency C. Fauntas and Pinnell Leveled Reading (Observation of other teachers drives her daily instruction, she feels it is
key.
5. Can you tell me about the Rti process in your school district? What is the process to refer a student for special services?
Used to be concrete, District 33s is spinning out of control and broken, it is not as effective anymore. When you need help, you
should definitely look out of the classroom for other perspectives and advice which she says is very essential because you are
constantly learning and you need to keep up with the current systems and processes of school and learning.
6. What methods would you suggest for keeping yourself organized? For example what method do you use to keep track of parent
contact, when students turn in permission slips, lunch count, attendance or picture day money?
Paper organization, what works best for you, file folders, envelopes, highlighting checklist; Without this = not same
7. How do you keep your students families informed about what is going on in the classroom or with their individual student?
Weekly and monthly newsletters, phone calls, emails, talk in person (face-to-face preferred), written letters, and notebooks.
8. Do you encourage parental participation and volunteering in your classroom? Why or why not?
Stephanie Drake does encourage parental participation and volunteering in her classroom, but most parents have to work even
though they know they can come in if they are free (parents do volunteer sometimes, but not as often as she would like them to).
9. Do you meet with your grade level partners on a regular basis? Do you have collaborative plan time built in your schedules? What
is discussed at these meetings? Is this district or school mandated or do you find time to collaborate yourselves?
Every Thursday morning at 7:15 A.M., all of the Kindergarten grade level teachers meet together, hour and a half every other
week, every other meeting happens in the evening so sometimes they will need/have to stay late and plan for the month in advance.
It depends on who is attending the meetings, Veterans versus New Teachers, this decides what is discussed along with how well
teams work together.
10. What clubs, coaching, or committees are you involves in beyond the school day? Does you district compensate employees for
sponsoring, coaching, or committee membership? Is there a minimal requirement?
She is not involved with any clubs or coaching any teams/clubs, but she is involved in committees. Compensation must be approved
(Grade level meetings are not compensatable) and she is lowly compensated for working over the summer on Language Activities.
11. Does your administrator solicit feedback from teachers on school initiatives? What kind of initiatives are taking place in your
school right now?
No textbooks, they have to find their own resources. Kagen Cooperative Grouping, Play Based Kinder, Tyner Reading Program
District Level, KIDS Assessment, and the Administrative level.
12. How do you stay current on hot topics in education or best practices?
Mrs. Drake stays current on hot topics in education or best practices by blogging, through ASCD, Ed Leadership, IEA, twitter,
Books, and through many book talks!
13. Do you attend workshops or participate in professional development activities? What are the most recent ones you have
participated in?
Stephanie Drake does attend workshops and the school district will sometime cover the costs. One of the most recent workshops
Mrs. Drake has participated in was the 5 Session Danielson Training, a new evaluation system all over the country, she highly
recommends it. She also participated in a professional development activity known as a webinar.
14. Are you a member of any professional organizations? If so, which ones?
Mrs. Drake is a member of ECYS and NBCT).
15. Are you on any leadership teams or are you in charge of any committees? What are your roles on these committees?
Stephanie Drake is the Primary Representative for the Building Leadership Team and is the only kindergarten representative for
LA Sac (Language Arts) and is also a part of the joint committee (Mrs. Drake is the only Pre-K to 5th Grade teacher representing
English and bilingual) Evaluation and unofficial kindergarten leader.
16. If you knew then what you know now, what advice would you give me?
Stephanie Drake wanted to inform me that I will not be working from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. right out of college, she noted that I
will not have summers off or the weekends free, but she told me that it is incredibly important/crucial to find balance from the getgo (Dedicating time to yourself, your family, etc. and take time off).
17. What is the most rewarding thing about being a teacher?
Mrs. Drake answered this question by saying, THE LOOK IN THEIR EYES! She wanted to make sure I wrote that in all caps!
18. What is the most challenging this about being a teacher?
Stephanie Drake believes the politics are the most challenging thing about being a teacher because the kids will make it easy, but
the adults will make it difficult. She is also noted that teachers will go through a lot of heart wrenching events that will really tear
at your heart strings, but she says you have to stand strong, be tough, and be the best teacher you can be.

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Interview with Stephanie Drake a Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher at

Turner Elementary School

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