Interview questions (2008)

[Master Pre-K]

Originally Posted by McKennaL

Ok... here's a question *I* have.

Not a interview question...but an interviewING one.

How do you FINISH an answer. I KNOW I will talk someone's socks off..so I try NOT to go too long, but then they are sitting there looking at me like...are you going to add more???

And I feel like I should add the Forest Gump line (imitating his voice) "...and that's all i have to say about THAT."

the way the telephone bankers do...

"Did I answer all of your questions?"

[Master Pre-K]

[QUOTE=McKennaL;757572]

Originally Posted by chuckie

JW13 & Small Town Girl,

Yeah, the Vyogtsky question really threw me. I could remember his "Zone of Proximal Development" but for the life of me couldn't remember WHAT it was.

I always remember this illustration that went along with the ZPD section in a text book. It looked like a stuffed olive laying on it's side. The "pimento" is what a student can do ON THEIR OWN, and the "olive" was what a student can accomplish with help... scaffolding/cooperative groupings/etc

The math and reading theorists question REALLY threw me.

I'm not sure about THEORISTS, but there are a few text book authors who really opened my eyes... Math: VanDeWalle, and Reading: Cunnigham (I'd throw in a bit of "The Daily Five" and the sisters who seem to be the big thing around HERE.) But to follow up i would say that through my methods classes I was introduced to the National Organizations NCTM in Math, NSTA in Science, and the IRA in Reading and their IDEA/THEORY-Rich websites which have given me new and up to date insights about teaching those subjects!

don't know much about arithmetic , but.. all about

child dev 101

we grow and develop from closest to furtherest... so large motor develops before small motor. therefore as a pre-k teacher, I encourage and praise scribbling even though to the untrained eye, it is just that. to the teacher, it is the preface to writing. You will see some images, letters and figures, if you look deeper. large sweeping movements (gross motor)with the shoulders and arms must come before the child can make small hands and finger movements (fine motor).

proximal to distal
close to far

and any one who has observed a parent standing their infant up to make steps, only to have that poor child become bow-legged knows why you don't rush development. It is a man-made deviation of growth. it may seem that the child is ready, stepping in the air, but they must stand on their own, get balance, and do that shuffle around the table... the highlight of walking. only then can they step away, and make those first steps alone - without any help. because they have developed upper body strength, and can now use their trunk, and their weight is supported equally on their legs and feet.

which is why you should not hold a child's hand to help him write, unless you have seen them make some efforts... and that becomes the scaffolding...building on prior experience and knowledge

[irishangelkris]

I just got back from an interview for a Kindergarten position these are some of the questions they asked me

How would you teach the alphabet? Give examples

How would you teach your class that a nickle is worth five cents?
my mind totally blanked on that one

What are the list and describe the 5 reading components?

How would you teach to children with different abilities? ex. if some students dont know how to read yet

[mrhoug]

I hope you hear good news from your interview. These were interesting questions you were asked, especially the nickel one. I added your questions to a list of teacher interview questions, under the Elementary section. I believe other job seekers / student teachers could benefit from these.

h ttp://roadtoteaching.com/teacher-interview-questions/

Originally Posted by irishangelkris

I just got back from an interview for a Kindergarten position these are some of the questions they asked me

How would you teach the alphabet? Give examples

How would you teach your class that a nickle is worth five cents?
my mind totally blanked on that one

What are the list and describe the 5 reading components?

How would you teach to children with different abilities? ex. if some students dont know how to read yet

[munchkin]

Originally Posted by irishangelkris

I just got back from an interview for a Kindergarten position these are some of the questions they asked me

How would you teach the alphabet? Give examples
To teach the alphabet to a 5Kg class,I would use some of Dr.JEan's songs to sing it, or other alphabet songs during my morning message. Then, I would use picture words that start with each letter. I would introduce the letters with a phonetic base program that encompasses kinestetic movement of hands, lips and connections to familiar picture words... what its called I don't remember, but an example is: "Short "i" says I like ' indian' " Placing your right pinkie near the top of your right ear. All the time showing them a picture of an Indian with a feather headress. Encourage the children to include other words they know that have the same sound. Encourage the children to also add their own names to a letter as you are going through it. Add these names to the alphabet word wall that is posted above the board. Each week you work on a different letter. YOu have coloring sheets/ make books with that letter, bring in small toys that start with that letter,place these in one of your centers; put books in your reading area that have that particular letter... just as a start.

How would you teach your class that a nickle is worth five cents?
my mind totally blanked on that one
To teach the concept of a nickle, there are songs/poems that you can look up that you can post on chart paperthat will teach the recognition of each coin and their value. Then review daily in your math small groups. Math worksheets will help you go over the concepts, too. Use plastic coin money for manipulatives in small group math . Include in one of your centers, a small plastic play cash register, that has some plastic foods that would be a "nickle" then let them play cashier. Introduce this item either in small math group, or morning time when you review your centers activities. We use 3 must go to centers, and 2 free choice. Two of the must-go centers are 1 math group taught by one of the teachers, and 1 language arts group taught by the other teacher. Switch after about 15 minutes. Each group is responsible for cleaning up their own mess. And filing their paperwork in a preset alphabetical box with hanging folders.
What are the list and describe the 5 reading components?
oops, I just went blank
How would you teach to children with different abilities? ex. if some students dont know how to read yet

I have found thatthe inability to read is fairly common , especially in lower economic groups or with parents who just don't have the parenting skills necessary to do the job properly, aka teenage moms. Tie in your literature to the things that the child knows about... connect with what they know in their world. Start with letter recognition. For 30 minutes each day, set a "Reading time" for your class. Provide book baskets with all interst levels and ability levels at each groups table to read during "free" read/ SSR. Go and listen to each child "read" one of the 3 books they have chosen, and show them how to picture walk through a book, then look at the pictures to get the idea of what's happening, then sounding out your sounds and....
By working with small groups and having them "brainstorm" and having you write about things they know about and tell you, then you can "write" a book that they have "authored". Use leading questions, like : "Let's write a story together. What do you want to write about. The star pupil of the day gets to choose the topic. Who is in the story? Where does it take place? What does this person look like? etc. Then when it is done(usually takes 1-2 days) choral read the story. Have word wall words listed that they can use to identify to that story. Maybe have a magnetic wall where they can spell those WWW / popcorn words as a center. Might make this one a must do center, dependent on their abilities.

Biggest thing I have seen in my 5+ years as a substitute in hundreds of classrooms, is that you MUSt show enthusiasm, patience and above all...be organized!!! Be organized to the "nth" degree, and your kids will fall in line. Then divide your class into multiple ability groups. Don't make them all one learning level, unless that is what your school district wants you to do. Run your group time/ center times this way. Change the children's groups around as needed. Good luck

[Rebel1]

Originally Posted by lemonhead

Hi

I was thinking we could start a new thread where people could post challenging interview questions. It would be nice to have them all in one place.

Please list your new question like this so that it stands out:

INTERVIEW QUESTION: with your question right here

I will start

INTERVIEW QUESTION:List and describe two (2) core teaching strategies you most utilized in your classroom.

How about something like flexible grouping or jigsaw to show cooperative learning and then whole group to show modeling and think aloud?

What would you say?

How would you answer the following?
1. What do you feel you need to know about each student in order to teach them in a way that they can benefit from your classes?

2. How do you address the lesson plan so that your students can all learn and remember what you are going to teach them?

Rebel1

[lemonhead]

Originally Posted by Rebel1

How would you answer the following?
1. What do you feel you need to know about each student in order to teach them in a way that they can benefit from your classes?

Their prior knowledge, how they learn, and what motivates or demotivates them.

2. How do you address the lesson plan so that your students can all learn and remember what you are going to teach them?

In a nutshell: Make it age appropriate with real life examples and use a 5E model. Also provide differentiation for ESL, different level kids, and learning styles.
Rebel1

Lemon

[Rebel1]

Originally Posted by lemonhead

Lemon

Thanks Lemonhead!
Rebel1

[teacher143]

Last year when I interviewed, I was asked what I would do to bring staff together and connect with others?
I told them I would bring food!

[nibella]

Originally Posted by lemonhead

guess not. Anyone have a better answer?

hi i dont really have a better idea but would have like to chat more on interviews. am preparing myself on interviews and amshort of idea. if possible please add me on msn or mail me on [email]EMAIL REMOVED - Send PM to This User Instead[/email]