Interview

I interviewd Linda McManis, a retired teacher who taught in the public schools in Pennsylvania. She informed me that technical writing is actually very important to the early childhood education profession. One of the most important aspects is the lesson plans that teachers have to write for each activity throughout the semester. Many school districts require the lesson plans to be in a specific format and meet specific goals and objectives. Secondly, teachers have to keep the communication lines open between the class and the parents/guardians. In most cases, this is done through letters and memos, and requires the teacher to give detailed information on the child’s progress and any special concern that needs to be addressed. Some of the more formal aspects of the profession are evaluations and grant writing. For evaluations, teachers must keep a detailed record of the students’ progress throughout the semester. Grant writing requires teachers to address specific needs of the class and/or school in a formal report.
In addition, Mrs. McManis said that formal, detailed planning is very important for teachers and that it should include appropriate guidelines for anything that may arise. She also pointed out that it is important to speak to parents/guardians in a clear and positive way when addresses issues concerning the student.