Service-Learning Interview

Date and Length of Interview:

March 4th, 2022 from 11:00-11:30 pm 

Interview Questions:

1.     What’s going well in your classroom right now?

2.     What are some challenges you or your students have faced

this year?

3.     How many students in your class have a disability?

4.     Have there been any specific challenges or behaviors your

students have faced? What do they look like?

5.     When do challenges or behaviors occur? Is there a specific

time of day or trigger?

6.     What resources do you and your students need to feel

supported?

7.     What are some strategies you have tried previously? What

worked? What did not?

8.     How often is music used in the classroom?

9.     Do you get any outside help from other teachers, therapists,

or other personnel? 

10.  Is there anything else I should know about your students

before I begin working with your class?

Blog:

The focus of my Service-Learning project is to create musical strategies to support a preschool classroom with challenging behaviors. The inverview I conducted with the lead preschool teacher gave me insight to the different aspects of her class she would like to improve over the course of my time working with the class. 

My interview with the lead teacher in the preschool classroom went well and was very informative. After talking to her, I found out that three out of eight of her students have a disability, and sometimes the personalities of those students clash and can make the classroom feel chaotic. The teacher mentioned one student who has a behavioral disability can become quite aggressive without much warning. Transitions to different activities can become chaotic quickly and cause anxiety for her students with disabilities. 

As for needs, the teacher mentioned that a strategy to make transitions smoother would be helpful as well giving extra attention to her students with behavioral issues. These needs are important to her because she would like the classroom to feel more peaceful, less chaotic, and wants all of her students to feel safe in the classroom. 

My initial ideas to help this class include in person musical activities. I am not sure about specific activities just yet, but I am thinking of something I can do to aid in smoother transitions. The possibility of making a soundtrack of music to signal times to play, clean up, and line up at the door, as well as music for other transitions throughout the day. I haven’t thought of specific UDL and SEL aspects to incorporate yet. I don’t think I will have a tangible product as proof of success, but If these strategies work, I will know by the improved student behaviors at transition times. 

Some resources to help me learn more about my target audience and give me ideas about possible activities might include research articles on preschool music and classroom management. Other possible resources would be to talk with the therapy team for ideas to better help students with disabilities.