uestion 1 - What are your thoughts on team-teaching?

Answer - I am sure many of you have participated in team-teaching and

realize the benefits of this strategy. The interviewer who asks this
question wants to discover, if you are flexible, enjoy working in a team
environment, have experience in this area, and what your viewpoints
are on the subject.

It is always wise to speak about some of the positive aspects of team-

teaching, such as:

It is an effective strategy for teaching large groups of students.

Encourages teachers to collaborate and generate ideas ... two heads
are always better than one! Talk about team-teaching experiences you
have had, and the positive results that transpired.

If you haven't had any hands-on experience, you may explain that you
enjoy working in a team setting and are excited about the possibility of
participating in this approach. OR, maybe you have done some reading
on the subject and can share some of the insights you gained with the
interviewer ... this will definitely be impressive!

Furthermore, it is vitally important to be honest when answering all

questions during the interview. Organizing your thoughts in advance
will serve to help you deliver truthful and concise responses, while
highlighting the skills you possess that are most compatible with the
needs of the school or district.

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Question 2 - What are your greatest strengths?

Answer - This question will probably be asked. Now, if you researched

the district/school and found out what they are looking for in a
candidate, you will be able to focus your response on that information,
keeping in mind it is important to tell the truth. With every response
you must show your VALUE to the district. This will also give them an
idea on how you view your talents and skills as a teacher. Perception
is critical... you must be able to confidently discuss your skills using a
convincing approach.

It is important the answer shows your hard/tangible skills. For example,

classroom management, curriculum development, or technology
integration. These skills will show the interviewer(s) what you can do
on the job. Don't stop there, you will set yourself apart from the pack if
you can back up your claims with actual stories. This will build
credibility... it shows you really are good at what you are claiming. Tell
them about what you have done to incorporate technology into the
classroom and what was the result. The result part of the story sells
value... and that produces job offers.

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Question 3 - What is your biggest weakness?

Answer - Your response could include something that may have been a
challenge in the past, which you have taken steps to rectify. It is
important to be truthful, they will be testing your honesty. In addition,
they will be checking to see if you provide a weakness that is critical
to success in the position. For example, the interview will likely end
quickly if you answer you have a difficult time management the
classroom. The key to answering the question is to turn a negative into
a positive.

I don't suggest using that the traditional statement, "I'm a

perfectionist", it is often overused, and will tend to sound phony. It is
important you don't get defensive and try to justify why you are weak
in a particular subject area, such as social studies. This would make a
bad impression, because it may be relevant to the position that you are
seeking. Whatever you decide to use, ensure it is not one of the key
skills of the position you are seeking. In other words, don't pinpoint
classroom discipline and/management or subject area if you are
seeking a teaching position.
Think of this question as an opportunity to sell yourself. Here is an
example: You wouldn't say, "I have a difficult time organizing my day."
Instead, rephrase the answer by saying. "There are so many creative
activities I plan for my students and class time is limited. It is difficult
to incorporate all of the activities that I would like my students to
learn from. Over time, I have realized to prioritize what lessons are the
most important to enhance my student learning. I now realize that I
can't do everything I would like to."

The above example shows you are excited about designing new and
creative lessons for your students. In their mind, this will not be a
negative. It will position you that much closer to getting a job offer.

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Question 4 - Let's imagine an interview for a grade one teaching

position and the interviewer asks: "Describe your classroom's physical
appearance." Having prepared ahead of time, you understand the
interviewer[s] attempt to determine:

 Your teaching style,

 Your ability to effectively manage the class,

 The level and quality of student interaction,

 Your teaching philosophy,

Answer - Within this context, you might respond:

"Upon entering my classroom you will find a lively and colorful room
completely centered upon children and active learning. Sight words,
the alphabet, numbers, and inspirational quotes cover the walls while
large bulletin boards proudly display students' work. A large area
contains a carpeted reading or group corner specifically for
storytelling, show-and-tell, weather discussions and calendar and day-
of-the-week conversations. This classroom includes an abundance of
age appropriate reading materials and student mailboxes where
children place personal journals, home reading books and workbooks
in the morning and then collect newsletters or other parent
communication at the end of the day."

NOTE:

Presenting floor plans successfully used in the past demonstrates

strong organization and preparation skills. Indicate various potential
seating plans used throughout the year and offer pictures of your old
classrooms as a way means to provide the principal and interviewing
board a first-hand view of your potential classroom...As the saying
goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words."

Remember, each person's answer will vary depending upon teaching

style and philosophy. The district representatives will look to see if
your style is compatible with their needs. Thoroughly researching each
specific district needs will allow you to tailor your answers which is
the key to a successful interview.

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Question 5 - Why do you want to work for our school district?

Answer - Your preparation and research is imperative to successfully
answer this question. Provide a few reasons why you're interested in
the school or district, and what in particular sparked your interest.
What is your personal experience with the school or district? What do
you know about its student body, faculty members, industry reputation,
community involvement, educational goals and objectives, upcoming
initiatives, demographics, or extracurricular activities? This
information will help you to accurately respond to the above question.
The word accurate is important -- don't answer the questions by using
old information

The interviewer is looking for evidence that you really know why you
want to work there or did you just send out applications and hope for
the best. This research will also help immensely when answering other
questions throughout the interview, so plan to dedicate some time and
energy doing this homework. Effective research will help to tailor your
answers, without being deceiving, to the question above. It is wrong to
tailor your answer with incorrect information - preparation and honesty
is the key to a successful interview.

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Question 6 - How do you handle classroom discipline?

Answer - For obvious reasons everyone will have a different answer; it

will depend on your teaching style, grade interviewing for, and past
experiences. The interviewer will be looking to see if you have a plan,
you know how to implement it, and if you think that discipline is an
important part of the position. What I have found from coaching clients
is they fail to provide a clear action plan that can be backed up with
examples. Also it is important to find out what is the philosophy of the
school or district, this will give you some additional information. A few
things to bring up when answering this question is the following:

It is important to develop ground rules the first week of class, this

allows the students to understand what is and isn't acceptable
behavior.
These rules are discussed and agreed upon with the students, this
makes the students accountability and responsible. You may want to
touch on your philosophy of classroom discipline. This of course would
depend on your style; you will have to be honest with yourself. But you
may believe that you reduce negative behavior by offering the students
a intellectually stimulating, organized, and respectful environment.

You will want to get an example of your plan; use a real situation to
show your expertise in this very important area. Whether you use the
red light/green light, time-outs, or removing the student from the
classroom, it is important that you can back up why it is effective and
use examples. You will want to explain why you feel the discipline
action is effective and why you enjoy using it.

It is also important to indicate there are always two sides to every

story, so if the action involves discipline of two students, you must
listen to both sides. Indicate that you try to get the students to resolve
their own disagreements, which may involve compromise. And end the
discussion by asking them, "How will you handle the situation next
time?"

Again, you must be honest when answering this question or any other
question during the interview, but by organizing your thoughts and
stories will make your response concise, truthful, and show your skills
to the district.

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Question 7 - How would you describe a successful principal?

Answer - By asking this question, the hiring committee is attempting

to assess the following:

 Do you understand what traits contribute to the success of a

principal. As a teacher, what traits do you value most.
  Your response may indicate or suggest possible conflicts with
the current principal.

Responses to this question may include:

It is important that a successful principal...

 has a vision and a plan to reach that vision...combined with the

ability to bring faculty members together to form a cooperative
team and motivate them to reach district goals and objectives.

 be visible... the principal's presence should be evident on a

continual basis. He or she must be easily accessible to both
students and teachers.

 has a great sense of humor, and can relate well to a diverse

group of individuals.

 genuinely cares about the students, teachers, parents, and the

district.

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Question 8 - Do you have any questions for us?

Answer - An interview isn't just about responding to the prospective

school district's questions; it is an opportunity for you to impress the
panel with examples of your foresight regarding the position they are
offering. By asking questions, you can also determine if the fit is right,
it shows interest in the position, and helps to develop rapport. If you
feel comfortable, and the interviewer seems amenable, you may ask
questions at appropriate times throughout the interview. Once you
have been in the interview for a few minutes, you will start to get a
feel for your comfort level in this regard. If you don't ask questions
during the interview, you will most likely be given the chance to do so
at the end of the interview ... be sure to take advantage of this great
opportunity!
So what questions should you ask? First, only ask questions you
cannot get answers to through research, for example, by investigating,
you may easily determine how many students attend the school -- so,
think of a different question to ask. Be sure you think carefully about
what questions you would like answered ... make them genuine ... and
recognize that it is always advantageous to ask questions. Remember,
don't try to dominate the interview with your questions, keep in mind
you are the interviewee. A good idea is to practice asking the
questions you created in front of a mirror the day before the meeting.
Write your questions down on a professional pad of paper or an index
card and bring them to the interview.

Some suggestions of appropriate questions are provided here ... ask

them only if they are not addressed in the interview and if you don't
have access to the answers. If the questions are structured correctly,
you will provide yourself with a further opportunity to sell yourself, for
example; "I am very interested in team sports, what extracurricular
activities are available for teacher participation?" What does this show
the interviewer? You are a team player and are willing to participate in
extra-curricular activities.

Other potential questions are:

 I have always been successful with getting parents involved in

the classroom, how active are parents at this school or within the
school district?

 I am well-versed at integrating computer technology into the

classroom, what kind of resources does the school have
available?

 Do teachers work in teams? If so, how is this organized?

 I consider myself a life-long learner, what professional

development opportunities will be available?

 What is the student/teacher ratio?

  I have been instrumental in developing new programs in previous
positions I have held. Will the school be implementing any new
programs this year, or require input to develop programs already
in place?

 Will the school be addressing any major issues this year?

 If you are new to the industry you may ask, "Is there a mentor
teacher program available?"

 When do you hope to reach a decision as to who the successful

candidate will be, or what is the next step in the hiring process?

This is just a sample of the many types of questions you may ask in an
interview. Be sure you don't overwhelm the interviewer with
questions ... three or four questions is usually sufficient.

Furthermore, it is important to be honest when answering all questions

during the interview, by organizing your thoughts in advance will serve
you in delivering truthful and concise responses, while illustrating your
skills and compatibility to the district.

Knowing the many types of teacher interview questions and their

answers can also be pretty helpful as you can well image. We have
created two ebooks to do just that, the first is A+ Teachers' Interview
Edge and the second is A+ Principals' Interview Edge.

The Introduction Questions

1. Why are you a good fit for this job and our school district?
2. What makes you qualified for this teaching position?
3. Tell us a little about your professional experiences.
4. Do you have a professional portfolio you would like to share with us?
5. Why did you become a teacher?
6. Name three words that describe you.
7. What is your philosophy on teaching?
8. What separates you from other teaching candidates?

Questions About College and Student Teaching

1. How well has your university prepared you for teaching?

2. What was the most useful college course you have taken?
3. What is the most important thing you learned from your cooperating
teacher?
4. What was the most important thing you learned from your overall student
teaching experience?
5. Describe your student teaching experience.

Personal Information

1. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

2. What are your three greatest strengths?
3. Name three of your weaknesses.
4. What is the most satisfying thing about teaching?
5. What is the biggest challenge in teaching?
6. What is the scariest thing about teaching?
7. What part of teaching do you look the most forward to?
8. What is the last book you read? When did you read it? Tell us about it.
9. Are you interested in extracurricular involvement at our school?
10. What are the important aspects of a good principal?
11. What is your least favorite subject, and age group, to teach?
12. Have you ever been a substitute teacher? Describe that experience.
13. What type of in-service topics would you be most interested in?
14. Do you belong to any professional teaching organizations?
15. What is the difference between a good teacher and an outstanding
teacher?
16. Have you ever received an award?
17. What type of student were you in high school?
18. What are your interests outside of teaching?
19. Do you belong to any social networking websites (Facebook, etc.)? Do you
mind logging in and showing us your profile right now?
20. What do you feel is wrong with public education?
21. Are you a flexible person?
22. Why do you want to teach in this district?
23. Tell us about your references and what they would say about you if they
were here with us today.
24. What would your last boss say about you?
25. How would one of your students describe you?
26. Are you actively involved in any type of community service?
27. Imagine you are at your retirement party at the end of your career. How
would people describe you as a teacher?
28. Do you want students to like you? Why or why not?
29. Who do you look up to and want to emulate?

Interview Questions About Teaching Style

1. Would you say that you are a tough teacher?

2. Describe an example of when you used positive reinforcement.
3. How do you integrate technology into your lessons?
4. Are you a team player? Give us an example.
5. How do you allow students to express their creativity in your classroom?
6. Do you have students use higher order thinking in your class? Give an
example.
7. How do you develop self-esteem within students?
8. How do you prepare students for standardized testing?
9. How do you make learning fun?
10. Describe a typical lesson.
11. What are techniques you use to teach besides direct instruction?
12. What do you do if the whole class is “not getting it”?
13. How closely do you follow your lesson plan?
14. What do you put in your learning objectives of your lesson plan?
15. How do you incorporate writing into your lessons?
16. Describe the most effective teaching techniques.
17. How do you connect your lessons to the “real world”?
18. Is it ok for a classroom to be noisy?
19. How much homework do you assign and how often do you assign it? How
do you know this is a good amount?
20. How do you stay current in your field?
Interview Questions About Teacher Communication

1. Give us examples of how you communicated with other teachers in your

department?
2. Give us an example of effective communication with an administrator.
3. Have you ever utilized a class newsletter? What did you include in the
letter?
4. How would you deal with an angry parent if they called you?
5. How do you communicate with parents on a regular basis?
6. How do you keep parents aware of their son’s or daughter’s grades?
7. How would you react if a parent complained about your class?
8. What would you tell a parent if he or she was concerned about their kid’s
grades?
9. What would you do if you received a note from a parent asking for their son
to be excused from last night’s homework because the student was too busy
with another activity?
10. What course of action would you take if a student says he or she is being
abused at home?

Teacher Interview Questions About Differentiating

Instruction

1. Give an example of how you differentiated instruction in a lesson.

2. How do you accommodate for a gifted student in your class?
3. How do you manage students with different reading abilities?
4. Explain how you meet IEP needs.
5. How do you feel about inclusive classrooms?
6. What is your experience co-teaching with an inclusion specialist?
7. How do you accommodate for non-English speakers?

Questions About Classroom Management

1. What is your classroom management plan and what do you hope to

accomplish with it?
2. What does a model classroom look like to you?
3. How do you avoid misbehavior altogether?
4. What was the most difficult child you have ever dealt with?
5. Would you create a behavior modification plan for ongoing misbehavior?
6. What is the most challenging behavioral situation you have ever dealt
with? How did you react?
7. What are your classroom rules?

roactive Strategies

 In my third grade classroom, we created a classroom rules poster together.

When it was complete, the whole class brainstormed ideas for a title. The
winning title was, “Cool Rules for Cool Kids;” they all signed the bottom of
the poster and we hung it in our room.

 I feel children should be moving, so we have “Stop, Drop, and Dance”

sessions throughout the day. Movement can wake up a child’s brain, it
reduces fidgeting and other distracting behaviors that come from asking a
child to sit still all day, and it is a way to work through difficult situations –
often I will “dance it out” with a student who is upset about something.
Dancing to upbeat music just makes everyone happy!

What is Differentiated Instruction?

“Differentiated instruction”—the process of identifying students’ individual learning
strengths, needs, and interests and adapting lessons to match them—has become a popular
approach to helping diverse students learn together. But the field of education is filled with
varied and often conflicting definitions of what the practice looks like, and critics argue it
requires too much training and additional work for teachers to be implemented consistently
and effectively.
Multicultural education refers to any form of education or teaching that incorporates the
histories, texts, values, beliefs, and perspectives of people from different cultural backgrounds.
At the classroom level, for example, teachers may modify or incorporate lessons to reflect the
cultural diversity of the students in a particular class. In many cases, “culture” is defined in the
broadest possible sense, encompassing race, ethnicity, nationality, language, religion, class,
gender, sexual orientation, and “exceptionality”—a term applied to students with specialized
needs or disabilities.