Interacting Professionally

1. Interacting Professionally ED 402 Professional Seminar Sharon Alessi Ashley MacCain Christina Ibanez Patrick Williams

2. “To be a good teacher is hard work. You have to be totally engaged and positive and creative and happy all the time to be a good teacher and have a hell of a lot of responsibility and not a lot of respect, not a lot of pay in the end.” (Hayley, taught for 3.5 years)

3. Portfolios

4. Rationale for Portfolio Usage • Portfolios set new teachers apart from other candidates by presenting tangible evidence of their skills and abilities. • Portfolios allow candidates to exercise control over portions of the interview • Portfolios are an important marketing tool for promoting the beginning teacher's skills and abilities. • Portfolios can be used to augment answers during an interview

5. How Teachers Feel About Portfolios • Teachers find portfolios to be helpful, in that the portfolio helps to provide vivid and tangible examples of teaching methods, ideas, and skills. • Though portfolio preparation is extremely time consuming, it is an excellent visual tool to use during an interview versus verbal explanation. • Using a portfolio shows professionalism as well as organizational skills while showcasing one’s teaching strategies.

6. Portfolio Do’s and Don’ts Do… Don’t… • Take the time to organize • Be selective in choosing artifacts • Use your portfolio to make the best first impression • Be able to rationalize your choices and discuss the portfolio • Sell yourself short • Include every sample • Rely on the interviewer to read your entire portfolio • Allow the portfolio to carry the interview

7. The Interview

8. Let’s take a look and see what is wrong in the following interview video clip.

9. Interview #1

10. When interviewing for a teaching position, what does a bad interview look like? • Fidgeting • Chewing Gum • Not being able to answer a question • Avoiding eye contact • Speaking unprofessionally • Having a cell phone turned on during the interview

11. Let’s take a look and see what characteristics we see in the next video.

12. Interview #2

13. When interviewing for a teaching position, what characteristics do employers look for? • Impeccable Communication skills (verbal and written) • Honesty • Motivation • Strong work ethic • Organizational skills • Teamwork skills • Flexibility

14. Do’s and Don’ts for a Good Interview DO… DON’T… • Dress professionally • Exude confidence • Do your homework • Be honest • Emphasize your passion for the profession • Present yourself as relaxed and calm • Let yourself get flustered • Walk into an interview blind • Make up answers that you think the interviewer wants to hear • Downplay your experience and expertise

15. Parent-Teacher Conferences

16. Conducting a Parent-Teacher Conference • It is important to have a good working relationship between parents and teachers • Teachers need to understand that the parent is the first teacher. It is the teacher’s duty to respect the parents and their decisions • Remind parents that your door is always open to them, and that good communication is the keyto their child’s success

17. Let’s take a look and see how this parent-teacher conference went.

18. Parent-Teacher Conference

19. Discussion: What was wrong with this conference?

20. Let’s see how conference #2 went.

21. Parent-Teacher Conference

22. Discussion: How did the teacher’s actions change the tone of this conference?

23. Tips for Conducting a Parent-Teacher Conference • Welcome parents by shaking their hands, introducing yourself and greeting them by name. • Be prepared- Document strengths and difficulties of the child. • Be receptive to what the parents are saying-they know their child better than anyone. • Make the conference a positive experience. • Do not get defensive, no matter how agitated the parents may be.

24. Snapshot

25. References Benotti, M. (2011). Eleven ways to make your interview successful. AAEE Job Search Handbook, 16-17. Buchanan, J. (2010, June). Informaworld. In May I be excused? Why teachers leave the profession. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/section-db=all-content=a923260929-fulltext=713240928-dontcount=true#s923260963 Campbell, C., Cignetti, P., Melenyzer, B., Nettles, D. & Wyman, R. (1997). How to develop a professional portfolio: a manual for teachers. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Humphrey, E. (2010, March 3). Parent Dish. In Make the most of parent-teacher conferences. Retrieved April 15, 2011, from http://www.parentdish.com/2010/03/03/make-the-most-of-parent-teacher-conferences/ Johnson, K. & Hodges, C. (1998). Developing professional portfolios in a teacher education program. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Job Employment Guide. Teacher interview questions. Retrieved April 15, 2011, from http://www.job-employment-guide.com/teacher-interview-questions.html

26. Additional Information Abromitis, B. (November 8, 2008). Suite101.com. In Successful prek-12 parent teacher conferences. Retrieved April 24, 2011, from http://www.suite101.com/content/parent-teacher-conferences-a77874 Davies, C. A+ Resumes for teachers. In Teacher Interview Questions and Answers. Retrieved April 15, 2011, from http://resumes-for-teachers.com/news/education-interview-questions.htm Teaching Interview Questions. Interview questions for teachers – tips and guide. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from http://teachinginterviewquestions.org/ The Teacher Spot. Parent-teacher conferences. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from: http://theteacherspot.com/firstyears/parent_teacher_conference.html