Interview Protocol
There is a real difference between the theory of teaching and the reality of teaching. For
this assignment, you will complete two interviews with practicing field-based public school
teachers: One (1) special education teacher working with students with disabilities who are
mainstreamed either part- or full-time; and one (1) general education teacher working with
students with disabilities who are mainstreamed either part- or full-time.
You will document your interviews by submitting to me:
a. the name, school, grade taught of each teacher interviewed;
b. the time and date of each interview;
c. a copy of your field notes which you will take during the interview process; and
d. a typed and proof-read reflection paper summarizing your findings and your insights.
The object of these interviews is for you to start to obtain an understanding of how our
public-school systems work and how individual teachers working within these schools deal with
the reality of working with children with special needs.
Please understand, this exercise is not about you filling in the blanks for each of the questions
presented below – the following questions are simply meant to help focus you on some of the
crucial issues you will experience once you graduate. Therefore, use the questions provided to
guide you in directions, but do not hesitate to seek additional information for clarification,
exploration, and understanding. The grading of this project will depend substantially on your
ability to communicate to me that you have gathered cogent information, reflected upon it, and
have gained insights and understanding from the experience (see grading rubric on page 3).
Teacher Interview Instruction: 9/18/13 Version
page 1
Please remember that these are only sample questions to get the conversation going – DO
NOT limit yourself to obtaining answers to these questions only. Follow the flow of the
conversation – The object of this interview is for you to learn something. The object of the paper
is for you to communicate that you did learn something.
Key Questions for starting the conversation:.
1. Does your school use the RTI (Response to Intervention) model for the identification and
provision of services to students exhibiting learning and behavioral difficulties?
If Answer is YES:
a. How do you feel about the effectiveness of this model?
b. What are the challenges in using this model?
If Answer is NO:
c. Do you have any school wide intervention programs for students that are
struggling academically or behaviorally?
d. Do you think a school wide program is worth the effort?
2. In your classroom you have children identified as having special needs that qualify of
Special Education services.
a. Each of these students have an Individual Education Program (IEP).
i. What advantages do you see to the IEP process?
ii. What disadvantages do you see to the IEP process?
iii. What could be done to make the IEP process better for you?
b. What kind of curriculum changes do you find yourself making for students to succeed
in the general education classroom?
c. How do you deal with the issue of grading students with special needs?
d. In general, how do you feel your children with special needs are accepted within the
general education student population?
i. Academically?
ii. Socially? In and out of school?
3. What advice on working with children with special needs would you give me as a new teacher?
4. What skills should I emphasize in mastering while I am still in college that will help prepare me
to be an effective teacher?
Teacher Interview Instruction: 9/18/13 Version
page 2
The following will be used as the rubric for evaluation of this paper: 30 points total
Please attach this rubric to your paper as the first page when you submit it.
Student Name: ____________________________________________________
Area
Copy of Questions and
Responses (field notes – typing
not necessary)
Paper summarizing your
findings
Demonstration of reflection,
insight, and understanding
included in paper.
Grammar/Spelling/Punctuation
Special Education
Teacher
General Education
Teacher
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
/15
/15
Your Score/Total
Teacher Interview Instruction: 9/18/13 Version
page 3