Section 6: Teacher Candidate Interview Video

Teacher Candidate Interview Video

My Weebly Website can be viewed by clicking on the following link:

http://mrswardsgrade1class.weebly.com

My Screencast-O-Matic Teacher Interview Video can be viewed by clicking ono the following

link: https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cbiuoCl4Bd

Introduction to Teacher Candidate Interview Video

The process of creating the Teacher Candidate Interview Video was a worthwhile and

thought provoking experience. As I prepared to answer the questions in the video, I was

reminded of how much I have learned during my pursuit of my Master of Science in Education,

Elementary degree. Effective educators are not only caring and reflective individuals but they are

knowledgeable and collaborative as well. I have learned the value of being prepared and

proactive, keeping up with the latest trends in technology, continually working to be a reflective

practitioner and to be culturally responsive as I meet the needs of the students in my class. Both

the Screencast-O-Matic and Weebly website platforms were easy to use and demonstrated to me

that there are effective ways to use technology to communicate my skills and abilities to future

employers, families, students and colleagues.

The Teacher Candidate Interview Video aimed to address five different questions that are

pertinent to future employers. In creating my Teacher Candidate Interview Video, I was able to

elaborate on those questions as a means of introducing future employers to my knowledge, skills,

abilities and perspectives in education. The questions were as follows: Briefly share a little about

your background experiences that have led you to choose a career in education? What have you

learned in your teacher training program that will make you an excellent classroom teacher and

colleague? Provide an example of a lesson that you taught. How did it address the Common Core
Learning Standards, technology, student engagement and motivation. What were the results of the

lesson? How will your knowledge of the current trends in education inform you as an educator in our

district/board/school? Why should we hire you instead of the other applicants we have interviewed?

Being afforded the opportunity to answer those questions allowed me to discuss my methods,

practices and personal opinions which I feel are valuable indicators of my passion and desire to

become a classroom teacher.

Finally, creating this Teacher Candidate Interview Video allowed me to reflect upon my time

at Medaille College, the people I have met and the things I have learned. I very wise professor once

said If we do not push ourselves outside of our comfort zones, we cannot learn and grow. Many of

my accomplishments throughout this program have been the result of pushing myself outside of my

comfort zone. In doing so, I learned a lot about myself and I know that this process has made me a

stronger, better and more confident educator!

Interview Questions

Introduction

Hello, my name is Wendy Ward and I have created this video as a means of showcasing

all that I have learned while in pursuit of my master of science in education degree from

Medaille College.

Throughout my video, I will answer some questions about who I am, and how my personal,

professional and educational experiences have led me to a career in education.

I will discuss how my learning during my studies at Medaille College has prepared me to be, not

only an effective educator but a professional colleague as well.

I will detail a lesson that I designed and taught and how it addressed the common core learning

standards, using technology as a tool to inspire student engagement. I believe that Using
technology is a strong motivational factor in inspiring students to become involved in their

lessons and it also sparks excitement about learning.

Understanding the current trends in education is important for teachers so that we can be

informed educators within our school boards and districts. I will discuss which trends that I

believe are of importance to students, teachers and parents in my local school board.

Finally, I will provide a brief overview of why I believe I would make a great addition to your

teaching team.

Before I answer those questions, Id like to show you around the classroom website that I created

because it has some fun and interesting tools and resources that I think youll enjoy.

Question 1 Briefly share a little about your background experiences that have led you to choose
a career in education.

I graduated high school with honors in the French Immersion program; an accomplishment of

which I am very proud. Following high school, I attended the University of Guelph and

graduated with a Baccalaureate in Arts. During this time, I was studying psychology as my major

and I realized that it wasnt a true fit for me. Although I enjoyed some of my courses, I did not

see myself pursuing a Masters degree in psychology. During the summer prior to my

graduation, I was afforded the opportunity to work with physically disabled children who

suffered from a rare, degenerative muscle disorder. Although that sounds depressing, it was

completely the opposite. I found myself among these amazing individuals who faced so many

physical challenges yet were so happy, optimistic and full of life. I couldnt help but be inspired

by them. Not only that, I left each day after having worked with them, feeling a sense of

fulfillment and purpose. I felt happy knowing that I was making a difference in their lives

through my work. It was at that point that I realized that working with children and youth in a

helping capacity was where I was meant to be. Life however had a different path in store for me.
Upon graduation, I was offered a full-time career in sales which I decided to pursue. In

hindsight, it was a valuable experience for me because it allowed me to develop my skills in

collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity (4 Cs of 21st Century Learning).

Working with colleagues and clients required me to put these skills to use in a meaningful way

so I am definitely an excellent role model for my students as I have had a great deal of

experience practicing the essential 4 Cs of 21st Century Learning! During my sales career, I was

required to evolve with latest trends in technology. It was essential for me to communicate with

my colleagues and clients in a professional and timely manner which meant being

knowledgeable and able to use the most current technology available. It wasnt until I had the

opportunity to volunteer in my daughters French Immersion classroom that I realized that is

where I was meant to be. I would spend my days working and interacting with the students and

teachers at the school and feel as though the day had flown by. I would leave each day feeling

such a sense of joy and fulfillment that I decided to make a change. It was at that point that I

began my Master of Science in Elementary Education at Medaille College.

Question 2 What have you learned in your teacher training program that will make you an
excellent classroom teacher and colleague?

During my studies at Medaille, I have learned a lot about educational theorists and researchers

such Howard Gardner, B.F. Skinner and many more. Those are the two who stand out in my

mind, Howard Gardner for his theory of Multiple Intelligences and his beliefs that all students

have their own unique learning style. As such, it is important for me as a classroom teacher to be

knowledgeable of such research and theory so that I can apply it to my practice. In doing so, my

students can get the most out of their learning each day. In contemplating B.F. Skinners theory

of positive reinforcement, one particular interview stands out in my mind. During the interview,
B.F. Skinner discussed how he observed in his sons math class one day and noticed that students

were filling out worksheets but they werent receiving feedback on their work for a week and a

half. His point was that unless students were receiving positive feedback in a timely manner,

their learning opportunity was lost. That always stood out to me and is something that I factor

into how I plan, implement and assess student learning in my class.

My classroom management strategies reflect these theories. I believe in empowering

students by working collaboratively with them to set out standards and expectations for behavior

and in doing so, students respond. Using this approach allows students to realize that they are in

control of their own behavior and if they deviate from the expectations as set out by our

classroom community at the beginning of the year, they will be held accountable for their

actions. Positive and collaborative behaviors are always rewarded with verbal praise which has

proven to be an effective calssroom management strategy. In implementing classroom

management in this way, an interesting thing happens among the group; students hold eachother

accountable for their actions. This is important because it not only maintains a productive and

cooperative working environment but it allows students to build their skills of self-confidence

and self-regulation. Further to this, I believe in being firm but fair in my class. I had the

opportunity to partake in a professional development workshop which addressed this concept.

What I found interesting was that fair doesnt mean equal fair means what is right to meet

the needs of each individual child. I thought that was a profound concept because our needs are

as different as each individual is unique.

Throughout this process, I have learned to plan, implement and assess lessons & be a

reflective practitioner. In reflecting upon my lessons, I am continually able to evaluate what

methods work, which should be adjusted and how I can improve. In continually reflecting upon
my practice in this way, I will continue to grow and evolve which will make me a more effective

educator.

Culturally Responsive Teaching is a big theme in my classroom. The cultural fabric of

our classrooms is changing and throughout my studies at Medaille, I have learned how to be

responsive to the changing needs of the different students in my class. It is my belief that all

students within the classroom setting should feel valued and their diversity should be celebrated.

I have the technological know-how to make a difference in todays learning environment.

Students are interacting with technology on a daily basis and I feel that it is important for me to

integrate the latest technology in my classrooms in order to make student learning relevant and

meaningful. In doing so, I am giving my students the opportunity to practice using technology as

a tool to enhance their learning journey. I am well versed in my knowledge of SMARTNotebook

software, as evidenced my the SMART Notebook Author Presentation I created and added to my

Weebly website.

I have developed my collaboration skills through my interactions with my peers,

colleagues and professors at Medaille College. I believe in the importance of collaborating with

other educational professionals within the classroom and school setting as a means of offering

the very best outcomes for all of my students.

Question 3 Provide an example of a lesson that you taught. How did it address the Common
Core Learning Standards, technology, student engagement and motivation?

One particular lesson which stands out to me is a SMART Board lesson on Probability that I

designed to meet Common Core Math Standards for second grade. I meshed two second grade

classes together and we all gathered in a classroom at the end of the hall. One of the most

valuable lessons that I learned as an educator was to always have a back-up plan. Although my

technology worked when I conducted a trial run, the evening prior to my lesson, the morning of,
my laptop and SMARTBoard were not interested in communicating with one another. However,

with the assistance of another classroom teacher, we were able to troubleshoot, adapt and

overcome the challenge. I was able to continue with my lesson as planned and the kids could not

have been more enthusiastic! My students were excited about learning in an interactive way

because they were able to get up, move around and manipulate the objects on the SMARTBoard.

They were also very motivated to continue learning because the lesson was fun for them. The

students couldnt wait for their turn to get up and use the pointer, spin the spinner and make

educated guesses about where the spinner would land.

Beyond this, what I was fascinated to watch was how some of the more shy and quiet

students responded to learning in this way. These are students who usually shy away from

actively participating in classroom discussions because they are uncomfortable with all eyes

being on them. However, I was surprised to see that these students were equally excited to

participate in the lesson using this technological tool because the focus was on the SMARTBoard

and not them. As they manipulated the objects on the screen , their backs were turned to their

peers and their attention was focused on the board . As a result, it was my assessment that these

students gained more out of this technologically enhanced lesson than they otherwise would have

during a regular class discussion.

Designing the lesson in this way employed Gardners theory of multiple intelligences as

it accommodated for different learning styles. Visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners all

benefitted from this lesson and we were able to have some really valuable and meaningful

discussions about the concept of probability and how it applied to their everyday lives.

I was so excited to see first-hand how the learning that occurred during that

SMARTBoard lesson transferred to other lessons. Following that math lesson, my class and I
decided to hold vote in our English Language Arts class to determine which of the Magic

Treehouse books we would read next. One little boy threw his hand up in the air and excitedly

proclaimed I would like to make an educated guess about which book is most likely to be

chosen by the class. I couldnt have been more proud; to see a student transfer his knowledge

from that lesson to other activities was so gratifying for me. It showed me that this student made

a meaningful connection between his learning in class and his everyday life. He applied his

knowledge to a real-life situation which means that he really understood the lesson and made a

connection. That was a rewarding day for both myself and the student!

Question 4 How will your knowledge of current trends in education inform you as an educator?

My knowledge of current trends in education affects my everyday practice in many ways.

During a Professional Development day, I was afforded the opportunity to attend a screening of a

documentary film entitled Most Likely To Succeed. The theme of this film was our educational

system and technology and how each has evolved to modern day. This film was both thought

provoking and inspirational for me and gave me great insight into various aspects of our

educational system and how we as teachers hold the power to shape young minds in such a

positive way. I think of the theme of this film often as I design my lessons and contemplate how

to best deliver them to meet the changing needs of my students.

I am a proponent of talking about mental health and modelling what good mental health

strategies look like. I feel that mental health is such an important component of providing a

whole education for my students because good mental health is something we all require in order

to feel well. I had the opportunity to attend a seminar which addressed the importance of mental

health for all and was able to participate in a wonderful conversation with my colleagues during

one of my placements. I was offered many resource materials which I have kept on hand as tools
to use in my classroom to support good mental health. Also, my training at Medaille College has

prepared me to know the warning signs of students in need and has taught me which channels are

appropriate to use when dealing with sensitive matters such as these. In the end, the health of my

students is of the utmost importance to me.

I have also learned the value of being a culturally responsive practitioner. Having the

ability to support each and every one of my students individuality is important to fostering an

inclusive classroom environment. I have learned so much about different cultures and traditions

through collaborative group work activities with my colleagues and peers while at Medaille

College. Further to this, I have learned so much from the students in my classrooms about their

diversity and the various cultures and traditions that they celebrate. What I found so heart-

warming was that students in my classes were actually educating one another about their own

cultures and together, they celebrated diversity and what makes each and every one of them

unique and special. These are amazing future leaders!

Question 5 Why should you hire me?

Prior to pursuing my Master of Science in Elementary education, I became aware of a

need for qualified French Immersion teachers within my local school board. Given that I am I am

fluently bilingual in French/English and am passionate about educating children, I would be a

perfect fit for any elementary French Immersion or Core French classroom. In Canada, we are

proud to say that our country is bilingual and I want to be a part of ensuring that every student

who wants to learn French as a second language in our public school system has access to it. In

doing so, I strive to be a part of the solution to the lack of qualified educators in this area.
I am a caring and compassionate person whose aim is to help others. Having faced some of my

own challenges with self-esteem growing up, I feel that I am able to help others to feel the very

best they can about themselves because we are all special and have value.

I am passionate about teaching students. As I have discussed throughout my portfolio and

during my teacher candidate interview video, I love to teach students and learn from them as

well. One example of the wonderful things that happen in our classrooms comes to mind here

and is one of the reasons I love teaching elementary age children. One day a young student

walked up to me and asked Mrs. Ward, do giraffes sleep with their eyes open? Immediately I

smiled, I paused and then I answered Wow, that is a really great question. Im not quite sure

what the answer is. What tools do you think we could use to figure out the answer to your

question. That is one of the reasons I enjoy this career so much; kids see the world from a whole

different perspective and I love learning from them just as much as I love sharing my knowledge

with them.

Being a mature student , I have the educational, professional and life experiences

required to succeed. I have experienced so much during my career, volunteer experiences,

educational experience and through motherhood. I have developed many intangible skills

throughout each of those experiences which makes me an asset to the lively school environment.

As evidenced throughout my portfolio and teacher candidate interview video, I have

demonstrated that I am technologically savvy and ready to take on the modern day classroom. I

have both the ability and desire to work with and learn about the latest technology so that I can

enhance my lessons and get students excited about their learning in a fun and interactive way.

I am a reflective practitioner. I continually strive to reflect upon my lessons to determine

what was effective, what would work better and how I could make my lessons more meaningful.
In doing so, I am continually ensuring that I am developing my professional skills as an educator

so that I can effectively meet the needs of each and every one of the diverse learners within my

class.

I strongly believe in the importance of engaging in extra-curricular activities with

students. I have seen first-hand how students have responded to me on another level after having

seen me participate in skipping club or track and field. Participating in activities outside of the

classroom shows the students that I have a vested interest in every aspect of their lives and

makes me more relatable to them. Ill never forget the day that my second grade students saw me

skipping with the skipping club at recess. Their eyes widened and they came running over with

excitement Mrs. Ward, we didnt know you could skip! Youre just like one of us. That short

interaction spoke volumes for me.

I love to learn and as such, I am a collaborative colleague. I love to listen to the

experiences and ideas of others because I think it makes me a better person. I have a genuine

interest in the well-being of others and I feel there is no end to the value that relating to others

brings to my life. I am quiet and patient and I understand that fundamentally, others just want to

be heard. When we take the time to stop, look someone in the eye and listen, we gain so much. In

that way, I am definitely an asset to any team.

I strive to continue professional development so I can offer the best to my students. As I

have mentioned, I have derived so much benefit from the professional development activities

that I was afforded the opportunity to partake in . Learning and growing professionally is one of

my ongoing goals as an educator.

As discussed above, I am knowledgeable and aware of current educational trends and

how they affect the learning community. Understanding the trends which affect those in my local
community is a key factor in being an effective educator. When I understand the trends in

education along with the needs of those within my school community, I am better equipped to

help them in a meaningful way which will enhance their lives.

Conclusion

As I reflect on my experience in creating the Teacher Candidate Interview video, using

Screencasst-O-Matic, a few things some to mind. Firstly, I feel a tremendous sense of pride when

I consider how I was able to organize my ideas using a PowerPoint presentation, I was able to

use Screencast-O-Matic software and I was able to add the interview to my Weebly teacher

website. Prior to this experience, I was not familiar with these technological tools, nor was I well

versed in using them to support my learning. As a result of this experience, I have gained the

confidence to share my ideas in a professional manner, using the latest, up-to-date technological

tools as a means of conveying my message.

I was able to reflect upon how I might answer questions during an interview and I was

reminded of how important it is to be succinct in responding to questions. At the outset, a 10-15

minute video seemed lengthy. In hindsight, 10-15 minutes didnt seem like nearly enough time to

discuss all of the things that I have learned and can offer as an educator.

Throughout the video, I was able to discuss how my knowledge of the curriculum

standards, along with ISTE standards, best practices, culturally responsive teaching and being a

reflective practitioner make4 me an ideal candidate to teach in todays classroom. I have both the

tangible and intangible skills to lead students in a positive and engaging way as they embark on

their learning.

This Teacher Candidate Interview Video experience has taught me to be dedicated to

strive for a high level of achievement, to be proactive in seeking answers to questions, to be

patient when technology doesnt always want to cooperate and to adapt to new circumstances

and overcome the challenges that I face. Approaching this task with a growth mindset was a key

factor in achieving success. This whole experience has reminded me that actions speak louder

than words. Demonstrating to my own elementary aged children that things are not always easy

and that anything that is worth doing is worth doing well, gives me a sense of pride.

I am thankful for all of the opportunities that I have been given in my life. This

experience was no different. I have proven to myself that with a lot of hard work, dedication,

collaboration and passion, great things are possible.

With that, I will model for my students what can be accomplished when you put your

heart and soul into something you believe in. The sky is the limit, here we come!
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