I have an interview tommorrow morning because I set it up this morning, I worked all day, and now I'm starting to think about the possible questions that I might get asked.
I'm having a hard time with this question:
What is your Teaching Philosophy?
Can some of you give me a couple of sentences worth of examples of what might be good responses?
Also, what are other possible questions that they might ask me?
When asked about my teaching philosophy I always include that all students can and will learn if provided the right opportunities and resources for the individual student and that it is my duty, as a teacher, to provide those opportunities to my students (it's kind-of cliche, but it's a launching point to sell yourself in other areas).
My favorite question in interviews is "Tell us about your weaknesses as an educator". This is where you feel obligated to reveal something good about yourself but hide it under the veil of something negative. I usually say that I tend to spread my self too thin (too many irons in the fire).
I got the job! I didn't get asked the usual cliche questions, but rather questions about what my classroom would look like and what I would teach and how. Less than 10 questions. Really quick! About a 15-minute interview. Then, I was told on the spot that I got hired. They desperately needed a teacher.
Congratulations, Mudpie!! That is so great!!! Whereabouts in California are you?
A friend of mine was hired in October last year, and her process went rather quickly too. It was a very tough job; the previous teacher (a first year) had resigned after six weeks! So are you inheriting a class or did the school add a class? Either way, I'm happy for you, and you will gets lots of support on this site. It sounds like your school knew what they wanted. Don't forget us! :-D
Thanks! I'm near Los Angeles, CA. I'm getting a class that had to be formed because the other K-teachers had about 26-28 students. According to state laws, K-teachers should only have about 20 students. I'm getting 21. These are students that have been in school since July. I'm pretty excited! I'm only worried about their behavior, I hope it's good.
You'll be fine! You might check and find out what behavior/discipline plans were in place with them in their old classes, so that you can modify/adapt with the least amount of "change" for students. But I'll tell you, Kinder students are the best! They will love you right away, although you're likely to hear many times in the near future, "_________ said we should do it this way....." and "That's not what _____________ does!" You're going to love having your own class of Kinders!
Wow, congrats! Good luck! Hopefully since they've been in school for a while all the criers will have stopped crying and you'll be getting students that sort-of know how to act in school. Have fun!
