Bethany Finneran

Master Teacher Interview

Mrs. Hartgraves 6th grade
1. Find out if there are printed school or district policies about any aspect of classroom
discipline. Homework policy? District-wide homework policy?
There is a school-wide policy about bullying. This policy includes curriculum
material for teachers to use to educate their own classes about the causes and effects of
bullying. In addition to this, there is a district-wide policy about discipline. Although
there were no copies that were printed, my Master Teacher told me that the school and
district followed Ed Code. Ed Code lays out a disciplinary plan all the way up to
suspensions.
There are no district-wide or school-wide homework policies. The only
homework that my Master Teacher assigns is 30 minutes of reading each night.
2. Identify ways the Master Teacher and school principal/district handle mild and
moderate misbehavior?
My master teacher tries to handle as much of the discipline as possible before
involving the principal. For mild behavior, my Master Teacher gives out strikes. One
strike is a warning to stop the behavior, two strikes is a change of seat, and three strikes
makes the new seat the students assigned seat for the rest of the week. For more
moderate discipline problems, my Master Teacher will assign the student a behavior
contract. These are individualized to each student and must be signed by each teacher or
pull out teacher that interacts with the student. At the beginning of the week, the student
sets a goal for how many positive checks they can get on their behavior chart. If they

meet their goal, they get to choose a reward such as extra tech time, early out to lunch,
and so on.
If the discipline problems are not solved with these solutions, the principal is
involved. The principal can have a meeting with the student to try to correct the problem.
If this does not work, the director of student services will have a very serious meeting
with the student. These meetings often involve scare tactics.
3. What type of chronic misbehavior occurs sometimes in the classroom and how does
the teacher handle the situation?
The chronic misbehavior in this classroom is usually disrespect. The students disrespect
can be broken down into attitude and non-compliance. If students have a bad attitude, my
Master Teacher will often answer the student with humor. A question like, did you
seriously just say that? will often solve the problem. As for non-compliance, my Master
Teacher will repeat the instructions. If that does not work, she will decrease the proximity
to the student and repeat the instruction. Discipline problems are usually solved at this
level, but if students are still non-compliant, my Master Teacher will give the student an
option such as stepping outside to cool down.
4. What is your Mater Teachers effective classroom management plan? How does it
help achieve areas for success in the overall classroom environment?
My Master Teacher emphasizes the importance of clear expectations during
classroom instruction. Students often are misbehaving because they are unclear what they
are supposed to be doing. To avoid this all together, my Master Teacher makes sure to
give clear expectations and instructions during instruction throughout the day.
My Master Teacher also talked about the importance of an effective, productive
classroom environment. A strong call to attention is needed in this class of 37. If there are
more than 10 students who are not fully paying attention, my Master Teacher will call the

whole class to attention again. She stressed the importance of talking to every student. If
students are not listening the first time you give directions, you will have to waste time
later by answering their questions on information you already delivered.
My Master Teacher also stated that she was very against blanketed consequences.
She believes that it is extremely harmful to the classroom environment to punish all
students for the actions of only a few.
5. What were some early mistakes your Master Teacher made in managing their
classroom as they started their career?
My Master Teacher told me that she made the mistake of talking over students
while trying to deliver instruction. This was harmful because it involved yelling at the
students, straining your voice, and risking the possibility that not all students will hear
what you are saying.
My Master Teacher also told me that the students told her she was too nice during
her first years of teaching. She was trying to be a friend to the students, but the students
wanted clear expectations and a structure they could expect and depend on. For example,
if a student was given a strike for talking during silent working time and the student said
but I was telling my neighbor what to do! my Master Teacher would take away the
strike. Now, she would tell the student Well what should your neighbor have done in that
situation? It is important to be consistent in your classroom management techniques.