This document provides questions for a student teacher to answer in a video interview for their Block 1 placement. The questions cover the student teacher's greatest area of growth, their assessment of their mentor and school, how their perceptions have changed, their ideal placement for Block 2 and Blocks 3-4, and self-descriptions of how they currently see themselves as a teacher and how they ideally want to grow. The student teacher is notified that their answers about ideal placements do not guarantee where they will be placed, as placements consider mentor availability and what will most benefit the student teacher's development.

1. Questions for Block 1 Video Interview:
• Please record and upload a video of yourself answering the following questions in as
much detail as possible by the end of the day WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19.
• DON’T FORGET TO SHARE YOUR VIDEO WITH DR. TORRES AND DR. SALDAÑA! (Our given
names are Ana Torres and René Saldaña, in case you forgot our first names, for
Teachscape sharing purposes.  ).
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1. What has been the greatest area of growth that you have experienced this semester?
I feel the greatest area of growth was working on discipline. At the beginning of the
semester this was something I struggled with, and something my mentor teacher and I had
talked about. I didn't feel comfortable pulling folders or giving points, but by the end I was
at least able to be less lenient with the students because, how I was at first, was messing
with her teaching.
2. What is your honest assessment of your mentor and school?
I enjoyed the school and my mentor teacher did help me to grow. However one thing
we rarely did during class was go over the standards and objectives. Aside from that I have
no negative comments about either the location, my mentor, or the experience as a whole.
3. Have you experienced anything this semester that has caused a change in how you
perceived certain schools, students, grade levels, styles of teaching, etc.?
I have decided that maybe first grade isn't the best place for me. At that age I prefer to
be more friend that instructor, and as such my disciplinary skills are suspect. I think,
however, because I see older students as they should already know how to behave in a
classroom. With this in mind, I am looking forward to working with a slightly older crowd.
4. What is your ideal placement for BLOCK 2 (next semester—approximately 13 weeks, one
full day per week)?
I know that making it to Block 2 will put me in 5th
Grade. Aside from that, I think I
would also like to try out third grade.
5. What is your ideal placement for BLOCKS 3 and 4—type of school (or specific school*);
type of teacher; grade level; etc? (next year-full year of student teaching, four days a week)
*Our schools are BEAN, ROBERTS, WILLOW BEND, RAMIREZ (BILINGUAL ONLY), CENTENNIAL,
DUPRE, WILLIAMS, HARDWICK, and BOWIE.
I dont have an ideal placement for Blocks 3 and 4. While I enjoyed my time during Block 1, as
I'm sure I will in Block 2 as well, going to school is meant to be a learning experience. If you
know exactly what you are getting into, you limit how much you actually are capable of
learning because you have already started planning exactly how to react to different
situations.

2. 6. What five ways would you describe yourself CURRENTLY as a teacher? (for example, Dr.
Torres might say that she is BLUNT (HONEST), LEARNING AND GROWING, FOCUSED ON
SERVICE, SOMETIMES FRUSTRATED, AND CREATIVE).
1. Forgiving
2. Learning and Growing
3. Creative
4. Different
5. Resilient
7. What five ways would you describe yourself IDEALLY as a teacher? (That is, what you
want to grow into over time and with experience—notice after 20 years of experience, Dr.
Torres still has some improving to do. She might say: HONEST BUT CONSIDERATE OF
OTHERS’ FEELINGS; LEARNING AND GROWING; STILL SERVING; PATIENT; AND CREATIVE.)
1. More Disciplinary
2. Creative
3. A better mix of Rigid and Flexible
4.More attentive to the needs of individuals other than students
5. A good role model
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FINALLY, TO AVOID FUTURE DISAPPOINTMENT:
Please note that your answers to questions 3 and 4 do not mean that you will be placed in
your ideal location. Many factors are considered in your placement, including mentor
availability (they have to be ESL certified and have taught for at least 3 years to mentor a
Block 3 and 4 TC) and the people and placements that your site coordinators see that would
most benefit you.