Sample Literacy Interview for

Sample Literacy Interview
for

Examining Contextual Factors in
Literacy Development

Read directions for this assignment linked from syllabus.

You must observe the child for at least two hours on the same day.

ALL summary papers should include the following contextual information:

grade level
age of child
first name (only) of child
number of children in class (# boys, # girls)

You must make comments (based on observations, interviews with child and teacher, and samples of student work) on all aspects of literacy development: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You may comment on "viewing" if the opportunity presents itself (in other words, if they are watching some sort of video while you are there you can make observations regarding the child's behaviors while viewing). You should get a notebook and keep "running records" of what you observe. How many times does the child raise his or her hand during a 2 hour period? How many times does the child leave his or her seat to speak with others? Does the child sit quietly or talk to others during class? When the child answers or asks a question, what is the level of oral fluency? Does the child listen attentively? Is he or she distracted easily? What mannerisms does he or she display when writing? Do they jump right in or do they stare into space? Is classwork turned in on time?

The idea is that you will have a complete chronicle of all the reading, writing, listening, speaking (and possibly viewing) behaviors of the child you are observing written down so that you can review and synthesize it for your paper.

This is a SAMPLE Literacy Interview that you may do with the child you select to observe for this assignment.

You may change the wording, add questions, delete questions, or otherwise adjust for the age and developmental level of the child you are observing and interviewing.
You may orally interview the child with YOU writing the responses, or you may allow the child to write the responses.
Either way you need to have a "conversation" with the child so that you can make appropriate comments relative to his or her oral language development.
You will also need a sample of the child's writing. You should ask the teacher how to best address this. It may be that the child can write something special for you (work with the teacher for a prompt) or it may be that the teacher has a writing sample that you can Xerox and include with your summary paper. For very young children a writing sample may be just a few letters (or scribbles) and a picture.

Sample Literacy Interview:

1. Do you like school?

2. What is your favorite subject in school? (you may have to give examples of this: science, math, social studies, spelling, reading, etc.)

3. Do you like to read?

4. What is your favorite book?

5. How often to do you go to the library?

6. Do your parents or other people read to you at home?

7. Does your teacher read aloud to you at school?

8. Do you like for people to read to you?

9. Are you a good reader?

10. How do you feel when you have to read aloud at school?

11. What makes you a better reader?

12. Do you like to write stories?

13. What is the BEST story you have written?

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