Use a release form for every person
that you interview.
Get profile information in order to put the interview into
perspective.
Tape record every interview.
If you choose to take notes while interviewing, be sure
that your attention remains on the interviewee.
An interview should be like a discussion, but the
interviewer should leave his/her personal beliefs and opinions out of the conversation.
Be open to all opinions, philosophies, and answers. There
is no "right" answer.
Encourage interviewees to elaborate by asking for examples
and prompting him or her to tell stories.
Move interviews in the direction of our main questions.
Refocus when the interview wanders. Move stories in the direction of what we need to know.
What does the story reveal about how the person sees good teaching of reading and writing?
What does the story reveal about how the person sees good professional development for
teachers? What does the story reveal about what teachers of low-income students need? What
does the story reveal about what the Writing Project can do to meet the needs of teachers
of low-income students.
Interviewees should walk away feeling good about who they
are and what they do. They should understand how grateful we are for the time they have
given.
You may leave the information about CWP with any
interviewee that is interested.
After the interview, put the taped interview on paper. See
the sample interview.
