Introduction
For this assignment, you’ll conduct an interview with an early childhood education professional, such as a center director, a teacher, or an assistant teacher. To prepare for the professional interview, reread pages 88–90 in Foundations of Early Childhood Education: Teaching in a Diverse Setting, by Janet Gonzalez-Mena, which discuss the role of a professional in the field of early childhood.
According to the reading, the classroom is much like an orchestra but, unlike an orchestra, the role of the professional isn’t necessarily that of the leader wielding a baton behind a podium. If you’ve ever spent time in a classroom, you’re probably already aware of this!
Using the points made in the preparatory reading, think over what you want to accomplish and what you’ll need to know from the person you interview. Using the guidelines in the next section, prepare your approach and compose your interview questions.
Assignment Instructions
There are several steps to complete the assignment successfully:
Contact an early childhood professional that has a minimum of an associate degree (in ECE) and make arrangements to conduct your interview. While normally conducted in person, options that meet best practices for social-distancing guidelines include setting up a Zoom, Skype, or Facetime interview or conducting an interview over the phone. The interview will likely be completed in the course of one hour.
Conduct the interview using the instructions outlined below. Make sure you’ve asked permission to take notes during the interview or, if possible, record the session.
Prepare a written account of your interview to submit for evaluation.
There’s a list of questions you’re required to ask during the interview, and you’ll write at least five original questions of your own. The five questions you decide on in advance won’t be follow-up questions used to clarify or draw out the mentor’s response to earlier questions, but should instead invite the person to share responses on new topics. In total, you’ll ask at least 20 questions, and likely more if you must ask them to elaborate on any responses that are too brief, vague, or off-topic. Your additional questions should clarify your purpose or help the reader appreciate your understanding of roles the professional must take on to “make beautiful music” in the classroom.
Format
In your report, in addition to an introduction and a conclusion, you’ll write a dialog based on the questions and answers from the interview. To ensure that you have all the information you need, prepare a sheet listing the questions and leave room for the notes you’ll take on the professional’s answers.
For clarity, we’ve included this sample of how to format your interview dialog.
Student (Put your first name here, for example Mary): Thank you so much for agreeing to help me with this assignment, especially since you’re staying after hours to do it.
Mentor (Add the name of the person you’re interviewing here, for example, Joan or Ms. Smith): It’s my pleasure. I’m so glad to help out a future daycare professional.
Mary: Well, let’s get started. What attracted you to daycare or wanting to care for children?
Joan: It seems I’ve always wanted to take care of kids. Even when I was a little girl, I was lining up my dolls and playing teacher. In grade school I always organized all the kids on the playground, and if anyone got hurt, I was the one who took care of them until an adult came. By high school, I was baby-sitting and taking courses at the “Y.” I guess it was destined.
Mary: Wow, you mentioned courses. That actually leads me to my next two questions, in a way. How long have you been a “professional” and what courses have you taken?
The interview process and your dialog should continue in this same back-and-forth pattern.
Required Questions
While there are some required questions, remember that the interview is a conversation with someone in your field and an opportunity to learn. By preparing possible follow-up questions, depending upon the professional’s answers, you’ll learn more and keep the conversation rolling in a natural way. If there are additional topics you’d like to ask about, prepare the questions before you go to the interview and write them down along with the required questions.
The following are the required questions for your interview:
Why do you consider yourself an early childhood professional and what does “professionalism” mean to you?
What attracted you to the early childhood field or caring for young children and why have you chosen to work with young children and their families?
Which teaching methods and strategies do you use most often, and who are the philosophers and theorists who have influenced your work?
What, if any, formal education do you have in this field? How do you continue to grow your skills and knowledge in working with young children? (This is a great opportunity for follow-up questions!)
How do you measure your own effectiveness in helping children achieve developmental and learning outcomes?
Do you feel your role as a professional has changed since you first entered the field? If so, how? (This is a great opportunity for follow-up questions!)
What are some challenges you face as a childcare provider, and what solutions do you believe are needed?
Beyond teaching and learning, what do you think your role is in the classroom and in your community? (This is a great opportunity for follow-up questions!)
What do you believe child-centered learning is, and how to embrace a holistic approach to teaching and learning? (This is another great opportunity for follow-up questions!)
How do your curriculum, daily schedule, environment, and materials support your objectives for children’s development and learning?
What are some of the developmental and learning outcomes you want children to achieve in your care? What are your objectives for their growth and development?
In your opinion, why is the period of early childhood development special?
How do you engage in reflective teaching and professional development?
What surprises you most about your work in early childhood education?
What advice or guidance do you have for someone earning a degree in early childhood education?
