Interview With Mr Wernofsky

During the phone interview with Mr. Wernofsky, he stated that it was important for teachers to spend as much time as possible getting to know their students and vice versa. “Treat it like a talk show with its own little society” is what he said, and “make it clear to students that you’re the one in charge throughout the journey.” By doing this, you’ll establish a hierarchy. One that theorist Marvin Marshall asserts, will help students behave responsibility and one that encourages them to put for the effort to learn (Charles, 2014, p. 161). Teachers can do this on the first day of school by telling students a little bit about themselves. That way, they know who you are as a person and what you have to offer them. This will also help show them

Wernofsky notes that teachers who go into classrooms demanding respect without putting in the effort usually experience more rebellious behavior throughout the semester. Therefore, as teachers, it’s important to keep in mind that students come from all different backgrounds. Some students, for example, come from supportive families, and some don’t. Some students are main providers in their household, and some aren’t. As time goes on, these are things that teachers will have to find out by earning student’s trust. Another important element that shouldn’t be overlooked by educators is respect. To put it another way, respect between a teacher and a student is something that should be earned, not

Wernofsky class is reading Romeo and Juliet, for instance, instead of having students turn in a traditional essay, Mr. Wernofsky ask his students to instead, re-enact some of the scenes with him. This not only encourages them to get familiar with the play, it also allows them to showcase their talent in other areas. Although some of his students of his are excellent writers, the reality is, not all students are strong in this area. Some students, for example, are better at public speaking, and some are better at doing other things like writing poetry, designing websites, and making audio recordings. The point of these different approaches is to inspire and motivate students, even if they don’t believe in themselves. Before heading back to his meeting, Mr. Wernofsky stated that creating a checklist is a must, especially for first and second-year teachers. “Although the district will have curriculums guidelines for teachers to follow, it helps to have a checklist of your own. That way, you can stay on top of things and let parents know what assignments, deadlines, and exams are coming up next if they ask.” Mr. Wernofsky ended the interview by saying, “remember, let the units drive you and don’t forget who you are as a person because you matter to your