Reading+Interview


 * EDC 423 Assignment: Student Interview and Reflection**


 * Download file for a list of interview questions**

As your textbook suggests, interviewing can be very effective in providing information about a variety of factors that affect comprehension. For this assignment, you will:
 * 1) Interview one upper elementary aged child (Grade 3-6) to find out more about his/her background, interests, and literacy preferences. You might interview a relative, sibling, neighbor, or student in your practicum setting. You should let the child know this interview will take approximately 20-30 minutes.
 * 2) After the interview, you will write a reflective summary of: (a) key experiences, interests, literacy preferences, and needs that stand out about this student and (b) how these insights inform your thinking and teaching practices as an elementary school teacher.

I’m going to school to learn how to be an elementary school teacher. For one of my classes, we’ve been asked to interview someone in elementary school to find out what kids your age like and don’t like about so we can design fun activities when we teach ourselves. So, your answers can help me be a better teacher. I have two sets of questions. First, I’m going to ask you some questions about you and the kinds of things you like to do at home and at school. Then, I have some questions to learn more about what you think about reading and writing. At the end, if you want, you can even ask me some questions. Are you ready?
 * Interview: Set a purpose when you begin your interview by telling your student:**

Think about what you have learned about the child from this interview. Imagine that this student has just joined your classroom and you are hoping to use information from this interview to inform your teaching. Write a reflective summary of what you learned about this student and how these insights can inform your understanding of what might be best for this student if he/she were in your classroom. Please address the following:
 * Reflection: Using Children’s Interview Responses to Inform Your Instruction**
 * 1) From the background inventory, what prior experiences and interests stand out that may affect comprehension? Focus on the positive here.
 * 2) From the reading and writing inventory, what preferences and literacy skills stand out? Again, focus on the positive when appropriate.
 * 3) What would most likely motivate this student? Please consider insights about (a) texts/topics and tasks for reading and writing and (b) ways of teaching and learning. Discuss at least two examples of each. You can refer to handouts, slides, or readings from our previous class on motivation or “the Five Factors” of comprehension (Cornett, p. 17).

Across both parts of the interview, what about this student would suggest a need (in terms of background) or area of difficulty (in terms of literacy skills)? Identify these areas of need/difficulty (at least two) and briefly discuss at least one way you might address each of these areas if you worked with this child on a regular basis. If you determine this student has no areas of difficulty, please use this space to indicate what you would do for this child to further develop his/her comprehension and motivation in your classroom.


 * Points Sheet for Student Interview and Reflection (20 points)**
 * **Task** ||  **Points earned**  ||
 * **Part 1. Interview – 5 points**

Conducted interview and included notes to questions for both the Background Inventory and Reading/Writing Interview. (If time is short, writing interview can be omitted). || Background Inventory (2)

Reading/Writing Interview (2) ||
 * || **TOTAL: Interview / 4** ||
 * **Part 2. Summary Reflection - 16 points** ||  ||
 * # Identifies student’s key prior experiences and relevant interests, as revealed in the Background Inventory, that may affect comprehension || Prior experiences (2)

Relevant interests (2) ||
 * # Identifies student’s key preferences and literacy skills, as revealed in the Reading/Writing Interview, that may affect comprehension || Key reading and writing preferences (2)

Important literacy skills (2) ||
 * # Discusses at least two ways of motivating this student with examples related to __texts, topics, and tasks__ and two ways of __teaching and learning__ || Two ideas for texts/topics/tasks (2)

Two ideas for teaching practices (2) ||
 * # Suggests at least __two__ areas of need and/or difficulty for this student and offers at least __one__ suggestion for each area with respect to next steps in working with this student to foster comprehension and motivation || Two areas of need/difficulty (2)

Two suggestions for next steps (one for each area of need) (2) ||
 * || **TOTAL: Reflection / 16** ||
 * **GRAND TOTAL:** ||