Interview questions (2008)

Lemon & STG you guys are always on target. You are a rising shining star. Good things will definitely be coming your way soon. Thank you for your feedback.

 

Awww-- Thanks Teachling-must be a Texas thing

On the what do you want from a principal, I said what STG said and I added something about confidentiality if I came to her with issues or problems. She said, "yes indeed, like a safe haven." Then she wrote something down. I think the two things together were good.

Lemon

 

"I would expect the principal to set a positive tone for the school. I would like the principal to keep an open line of communication between the teachers and school community, keeping confidentiality in mind at all times."

 

Thanks, Teachling.

 

Well, lemon, I don't see why you haven't already been hired for this job!

Great answer!

~Briana~

 

What a great idea. I recently went to a job fair interview and they asked questions in three's like the one below. When I didn't answer with three things she repeated the question. I tried again and then had to admit that I was blank on this question. Any ideas in case this comes up again?

Interview Question: What three main concepts do you want your students to get from your lesson?

 

I could see where you would draw a blank...I'll take a stab at it though. First, I would want them to be able to apply what they learned into the real world. Second, for the students to connect what they learned in this lesson to a previous lesson. Third, to be able to come back to what they learned in this lesson in any future lessons and make that connection.

 

That's what I was thinking smalltown; you just said it more eloquently than I could have.

 

Aww, thanks, Eddie.

 

Awww-- me either...not my time I guess

 

Yeah, I was going to say

1) why they need to know it
2) how it is linked to what they already know
3) how they can apply it to their life right now

 

^^Great minds think alike!

 

I'll take a stab & try to answer to one of the questions I posted earlier. Being a rookie, would appreciate your insight.

 

Okay, so this thread got me thinking...when asked a question by an interviewer that you need time to formulate your answer, do you think it would okay to ask for a few seconds to think about it or to come back to the question when you've had time to think about your answer?

 

I guess no takers, again Must be perfect as is.

 

STG- I think if I asked for a few seconds I would totally panic during those seconds and really mess up. I think it would be awkward to ask to come back to it plus I might be thinking about it the whole time. Maybe I would say, "gosh, that's a good question. I would really need to think more about it but off the top of my head....blah blah blah"

 

That's why I asked! I like the response you gave.

 

Teachling- I think your answer is a based a little too much on the curriculum. I would probably add something about since I am a new teacher I would like to be able to pick the brains of my team members. I would also need some help in making sure all accomodations were in place for any special needs students.

On the other one I would address the teaching side and finish up with how in my LTS position I was responsible for planning science.

Lemon

 

Hey lemon, appreciate your feedback. SO I take it ur referring mostly to the first question? Good point but I'm always hesistant as too how much to answer when questions asked what is the most of something? I know that some interviewers get annoyed when you go off on a list of things rather than picking one thing. Also, I had a teacher advise me this week that in getting ready for the classroom,it should be the first thing I should start. She emphasized it because of her own bad experiences when she started out as a teacher & had no guidance or support.

Any way, questions that indicate what is the "most" important or whatever thing you need I sometimes find tricky because you can't always tell how far you are suppose to answer. So, I wanted to know what other thoughts were.

BTW, I've been doing observations this weekend & I am learning so much! I may have some questions concerning this experience & will post on a seperate thread. :thanks:

 

This is an excellent way to handle those tricky questions.

 

Thank You

Thanks for starting this thread! I am in the process of getting ready to attend a teaching in May and I was searching for typical questions that are asked during interviews. Thanks again!!:up:

 

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Good morning everyone! I'm new here, but I have read all of the interview question/answer posts, and I have one that I didn't see.

I'm a long-term high school English learning support sub, but I'm interviewing for a 4th grade Gen. Educ. position for next year today at 1:00!!!! It's in the same school district, but I'm still so very, VERY nervous!

My friend interviewed at this school last year, and she told me one of the very first questions that they asked her was...

"What 3 best teacher practices do you use in your classroom?"

It is such a broad question, and I know so many things I can say, but I want to focus on other things besides just instruction. I know I definitely want to say differentiated instruction, but what else can I use as a best practice for classroom management, time management, etc?

Any ideas would be so greatly appreciated! Thank you!


PS... the other question/answer posts were such a help to me in preparing for my interview. They are a wonderful idea!

 

I'm extrememly happy to hear that. I just finished student teaching in a district where I saw several teachers yell at the students. I also grew up going to the schools in the same town. (Very small New England town) and I was so disappointed to the point where I have started writing a letter of complaint.

Sorry, if I get some negative comments but I just think it is so hurtful to yell at a student. I understand everyone gets frustrated but its better to take a deep breath. When you yell you loss control and thats not a good thing.

I used to work with youths in an alterantive school. Most of the students had juvenille cases and the language was disgusting. I mean I heard things that I never thought I would hear in a school; I guess it was a lesson for me to learn to keep control.

Sorry, I know this post is for interview questions.......so heres a question; not sure how to answer this:


Question

We'd all like to raise student achievement and address the needs of each student as a whole child. But when it comes down to it, we often have to make hard choices. If you had to choose, would you rather raise student achievement or increase self-esteem and self-worth?

Thanks~

 

Wow, what a great question Grad! I guess I would say that both are important and that I would find some lessons that did both.


Lame I know

 

I'm with STG; I'd have to reply about striking a balance of both in my classroom. I feel a good educator can raise student achievement through well-designed lessons, while meeting the needs of the whole child through the type of classroom environment I create.
(let's here it for lame and cheesy --- it's heartfelt so it works for me)

 

WOOHOO for lame and cheesy!!

 

What about saying that you would raise student self worth and esteem because higher achievement would be the byproduct or the result.

 

Now I knew you would come up with a great answer Lemon!!!

 

I don't know if it is great or not but it was the first thing I thought of.

 

Thanks Smalltowngal that wasn't a lame answer. Believe me I appreciate any response! Its funny that Lemon wrote pretty much the same thing I was thinking. I thought if you work with a students self-esteem then that would help increase student achievement.

This was a pre-interview question that I was asked:


1. Is it better to be strict or caring? Which are you?

 

OUCH --- How did you answer that one?

 

Oh my! I think it is far better to be caring but to also provide limits and boundries that are so necessary in a child's development. Students should not fear you but rather know that you care about them and that they can trust you to help guide them in making good decisions for themselves. Setting limits and boundries helps them to take responsibility for their own learning and actions making them successful in school and in life.

 

A new question

Why do you want to teach middle school...or why do you want to teach high school?

This is a different scenario because middle and high school students are completely different than elementary students.

I think I would start with my love for the subject that I would be teaching. I would mention that at the middle or high school level students are learning skills and traits (like writing) that will immediately carry over and prepare them for the next part of their life. As a middle/high school teacher you are helping them create and motivate themselves to being the best versions of themselves academically and beyond. I would love the opportunity to both learn from my students and inspire them for a bright future.

What do you think?

 

Tough one isn't it......

Hi Eddie

I've been corresponding with a school in another state so this was asked to me vie e-mail. I have a few days to send them my reply. I still haven't come up with what I think is a good answer...I feel I'm more caring but I know I can be strict....Ugh..this is tough.....:help:

 

Lemon...THANK YOU.....it sounds great. I don't want to come off as a softy or a push over and I don't want to portray myself as a rigid, uncaring person. You know the image of a teacher walking around with a ruler. What you wrote shows a teacher who cares as well as having high expectations of their students.

Thanks again! :up:

 

You are most welcome!!

 

Okay this doesn't exactly go with this thread but since I started the thread I am briefly going to hijack it. Pisces_fish asked some excellent questions in her job interview and I thought I would put them in this thread to help interviewees and make sure the questions don't get "lost".

Great job Pisces_Fish. End of hijack!

Lemon

 

Thanks lemon...I was about to print out these questions. Now, I won't have to worry about losing the stinkin piece of paper.:2up:

 

You are welcome cohort!

 

I got this question today during an interview...

What would you say to a parent who says their child is not being challenged in your class??

Thanks!!