Teacher Inquiry Project

1. Teacher Inquiry Project By: Emmett Ferry

2. Questions Asked • What subject and grade levels do you teach? • How many years have you been teaching? If others subjects or grades how long as well. (If they have other subjects, why did they change?) • When and where did you earn you teaching credential, masters, etc.? • Would you mind sharing you age? • What inspired you to become a teacher? Why did you choose to become a teacher then? 6. Besides teaching your classes, what other things do you do? • How much time do you spend on work outside of the classroom? • What do you like the most about your job? • Is there anything about your job that you wish you didn’t have to do? • What do you think the hardest part of being a teacher is? • How do you stay motivated with work? • What do you do to relax or take a break?

3. Teacher Descriptions • Ms. Ange- She is 35 ½ years old- has been teaching for 13 years- 9th and 10thgrade Global Studies and 9thgrade World history- There are a lot more males than females in the classes she teaches. • Mr. Palshaw- He is 37 years old- has been teaching for 14 years- taught 7th-9th, 11th and 12th, 3 years at middle 11 years at high school- Taught AP, honors, and regular, 5 college prep classes and R.O.P newspaper class for 5 years. • Ms. Barnett- She is 39 years old- has been teaching for 10 years- first year taught Middle school English and then has spent 9years at HS. Changed from middle to high school because it wasn’t her fit.

4. TEACHING in the modern Elementary school (Apa style) • Collier, C. C. (1967). Teaching in the modern elementary school. New York: Macmillan. - Citation • Summary of findings- To start things off, this book is focused mainly on elementary schools and over time they have changed for better and for worse. I really loved this book because it really struck the point that a teacher must develop flexible concepts and strategies for a lesson to be as instructional as possible. It teaches teachers to understand that they must be patient and relaxed at all times. Also, I found and enjoyed the fact that this book not only talked about how to be a reliable and effective teacher, but it gave real life scenarios and how to make a successful lesson plan (Long-Range Plans, Unit Plans, and Daily Planning). I found that this book was really helpful in describing all the little and necessary details that are often looked past such as the communities expectations for teachers, how what you teach and act will determine and effect the Childs future, and what teachers should be planning and how they should go about it. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I found that it has been very useful in presenting me with examples and in-depth information that will be useful later on in my teaching career.

5. The moral dimensions of teaching (Apa style) • Goodlad, J. I., Soder, R., & Sirotnik, K. A. (1990). The Moral dimensions of teaching. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. • Summary of findings- I found that this book presents many questions that are commonly asked before education can really take place. This book makes educators think about what they are actually getting involved in such as public schools, how different areas effect the way you teach, and how each of these question can relate back to you. I like the fact that within this book the authors examine and answer the question about the importance of the moral role of educators. I found within this book they cover in detail how developing appropriate professional standards is important and effective. About half way through the book they begin to talk about how moral instruction cannot rest solely on one teacher but collectively all of them as a whole. Schools can help teachers maintain a strong commitment to learning and passing that learning onto those who need it. This book covers many different questions and my knowledge of being a teacher and what to expect has expanded deeply.

6. Quotes from teachers • “I love spending a majority of my time thinking talking about and working with something a love. Literature, writing, and trying to pass it on to my students. Seeing kids improve and become even more successful”-Palshaw • “Every day I want to talk to students about writing from newspaper class to English class. Check in casually, formal conferences, give them feedback”- Palshaw • “I was living in Spain and I ran out of money and didn’t want to go home. I started looking for a job, saw opening, and they hired me. This was my inspiration and motivation”- Barnett • “The attachment to the students, having expectations for students, when the students don’t realize their full potential or when kids having hard time emotionally, these are the hardest parts about teaching”- Barnett • “I always knew I would eventually teach because both of my parents were teachers. The schedule was perfect! I enjoyed having my mom around during the Summer time too.  She was an awesome Principal too I saw that you can have a family and be a working mom and do it well!”-Ange • “I have three kids as you know, it’s hard to juggle all my daily tasks so I keep my eye on the prize!  I love motivating kids to learn history and Geography”- Ange • “Mostly it was I didn’t know what else to do. I had a Journalism degree from Tennessee and nearing the end of my junior year at Tennessee I started working with the newspaper and writing for the school paper. Got into writing in English classes more than journalism so I took some extra classes of English. After school I came home and lived with parents at 22, got fingerprinted, and became a sub at Carmel middle and high school. Didn’t really know what else to do so I thought it might be worth a shot. On the 1stday of subbing I absolutely loved it and one day I knew that was what I wanted to do”- Palshaw • “Besides teaching, I love being outside as much as possible. I love running or riding a bike, going to see music (singer song writer, blue grass, funk), hiking, yoga, and spending time with family(all things are with my dogs)”-Barnett

7. My surprises and incites After meeting and interviewing three of my past teachers as well as reading through two teaching based books, I have many surprises. First off, I was so confused and interested in the responses my teachers gave me. Each and everyone had their own story of how they became a teacher and each were very different. One found their way through spending time in Spain, another by being a sub and realizing how much helping children made them feel they are doing something important, and lastly one was inspired through their parents. When I first sat down for the one on one interviews, I knew something was different already. Instead of treating me like a student and holding information back, they treated me more as an equal and told me anything I needed to know. This different take on the person who once was my teacher helped me better understand the teachers perspectives on their work. I was really interested in the fact that each one had their own way of doing things and teaching, but in the end they all had the same motive and strived for the same goal. By talking to these teachers, I have gained a better understanding of what will be lying ahead of me in the future and have learned ways to cope and work through situations that may occur. Teaching is a great passion to have and with the help from these teachers and books, it looks like that future will be what I will end up following.

8. Video and Pictures • https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/different-measures-teacher-effectiveness Video