It may seem a bit unnatural or bit like pandering, but DO mention key terms I am listing here common questions with key words to go with them. -Cynthia
1. How do you plan a lesson? standards-based, GPS, National Core Standards, backwards design 2. How do you differentiate? Choice, tiered assignments, increased or decreased scaffolding depending on need, heterogeneous grouping 3. What is your philosophy of classroom management? How would you handle a disruptive student? eye contact, proximity, development of a personalized plan (as in the Sousa book), ideas from Lemov 4. motivation - (go back and review your notes on this) Choice, content connected to learners' interests, autonomy 5. Teaching thinking skills - lots of schools have recently done workshops on using graphic organizers, so mention those. http://www.mapthemind.com/ 6. Assessment - talk about an assessment PLAN with pre-test, formative assessments, summative assessments, performance tasks, formal and informal assessment
General questions Why are you a good fit for this school? What are your strengths and weaknesses? (Please don't say you work too hard; everyone says that.) Tell us a little about yourself (Keep this to 2 minutes)
I was asked: why should we hire you, as a first year teacher, over another teacher that has experience? I responded by saying that I have a fresh passion, innovative ideas, and an overall joy for the profession. I value the importance of collaborative planning and learned through working with my cohort that it is better to bring many ideas to the table and alter them based on what works best for your class. I also slipped in there that I have no bad habits since I am a first year teacher and that a standards based classrooms is all I know so I feel confident in my ability to break down and teach the standards. I got the job after this interview so the answer worked!
I was asked: What is your philosophy on homework? and What do you think are the key components to a successful classroom?
I didn't get the job at either interview so I don't really have a suggested answer, but definitely something to think about!!! Maybe you will be more prepared than me! Good luck!!
The hardest question I received was: "Put these in order of importance: Planning, Discipline, Evaluation, & Curriculum."
Some others that haven't been mentioned already: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment in life?
What would be a goal you would set for your first year here, were you to get this position?
What would you say to a student who says, "Miss Davidson, I know we've had a month to work on this project but my computer crashed last night & I lost everything, can I have another day to work on it?"
What would you say to a student who says, "Miss Davidson, my daddy raises pigs & I'm gonna raise pigs for the rest of my life just like him...why do I need to know how to write...& why should I read this novel?"
What would be the greatest compliment a student could give you on the last day of school?
Where do you plan to be in the next five years?
What would you do with a student who simply refuses to do his/her work?
All of these questions were great! Very challenging & thought-provoking, but I really made it my goal to see the whole interview as a fun thing. I mean, it actually WAS fun! Each question is an opportunity to really show them who you are, not to just spout off everything we learned in our textbooks, so I really made sure to let my personality shine through while answering these questions. I honestly think that there are two magic components of the perfect interview that simply cannot be faked: confidence & a love for students. If I hadn't showed them that I am sure of myself as a teacher & that my students are my number one priority, I feel certain I wouldn't have gotten the job. Before my interview, I talked to as many people about advice as I possibly could & made tons of notes. I'm talking: my grandmother, some of my former students, former host teachers, Cynthia & Christy, other former professors, my boyfriend, friends in & outside of the education department, etc. I was a sponge for advice because I really wanted to do well! The night before, I went over all of it & nailed down the aspects that I knew I could really make my own. Another helpful thing is to really ask good questions of the hiring committee, if there's time. Here are some questions I asked them: What types of staff development have you done in the past year or two (get specific, it makes it easier to answer) that have really made a difference in your team's morale?
What are the qualities of your most effective teachers?
What types of technology are available to your teachers? What types would you like to see me utilize if you were to offer me the position?
What is the parental involvement like? Community involvement?
Since athletes have sports teams to participate in, what does your school offer the more creative students? What about a literary journal? If not, would you be willing to let me begin a program, club, or publication?
It may seem a bit unnatural or bit like pandering, but DO mention key terms I am listing here common questions with key words to go with them. -Cynthia
ReplyDelete1. How do you plan a lesson?
standards-based, GPS, National Core Standards, backwards design
2. How do you differentiate?
Choice, tiered assignments, increased or decreased scaffolding depending on need, heterogeneous grouping
3. What is your philosophy of classroom management? How would you handle a disruptive student? eye contact, proximity, development of a personalized plan (as in the Sousa book), ideas from Lemov
4. motivation - (go back and review your notes on this) Choice, content connected to learners' interests, autonomy
5. Teaching thinking skills - lots of schools have recently done workshops on using graphic organizers, so mention those. http://www.mapthemind.com/
6. Assessment - talk about an assessment PLAN with pre-test, formative assessments, summative assessments, performance tasks, formal and informal assessment
General questions
Why are you a good fit for this school?
What are your strengths and weaknesses? (Please don't say you work too hard; everyone says that.)
Tell us a little about yourself (Keep this to 2 minutes)
I was asked: why should we hire you, as a first year teacher, over another teacher that has experience?
ReplyDeleteI responded by saying that I have a fresh passion, innovative ideas, and an overall joy for the profession. I value the importance of collaborative planning and learned through working with my cohort that it is better to bring many ideas to the table and alter them based on what works best for your class.
I also slipped in there that I have no bad habits since I am a first year teacher and that a standards based classrooms is all I know so I feel confident in my ability to break down and teach the standards.
I got the job after this interview so the answer worked!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was asked: What is your philosophy on homework?
ReplyDeleteand
What do you think are the key components to a successful classroom?
I didn't get the job at either interview so I don't really have a suggested answer, but definitely something to think about!!! Maybe you will be more prepared than me! Good luck!!
The hardest question I received was:
ReplyDelete"Put these in order of importance: Planning, Discipline, Evaluation, & Curriculum."
Some others that haven't been mentioned already:
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment in life?
What would be a goal you would set for your first year here, were you to get this position?
What would you say to a student who says, "Miss Davidson, I know we've had a month to work on this project but my computer crashed last night & I lost everything, can I have another day to work on it?"
What would you say to a student who says, "Miss Davidson, my daddy raises pigs & I'm gonna raise pigs for the rest of my life just like him...why do I need to know how to write...& why should I read this novel?"
What would be the greatest compliment a student could give you on the last day of school?
Where do you plan to be in the next five years?
What would you do with a student who simply refuses to do his/her work?
All of these questions were great! Very challenging & thought-provoking, but I really made it my goal to see the whole interview as a fun thing. I mean, it actually WAS fun! Each question is an opportunity to really show them who you are, not to just spout off everything we learned in our textbooks, so I really made sure to let my personality shine through while answering these questions. I honestly think that there are two magic components of the perfect interview that simply cannot be faked: confidence & a love for students. If I hadn't showed them that I am sure of myself as a teacher & that my students are my number one priority, I feel certain I wouldn't have gotten the job.
Before my interview, I talked to as many people about advice as I possibly could & made tons of notes. I'm talking: my grandmother, some of my former students, former host teachers, Cynthia & Christy, other former professors, my boyfriend, friends in & outside of the education department, etc. I was a sponge for advice because I really wanted to do well! The night before, I went over all of it & nailed down the aspects that I knew I could really make my own.
Another helpful thing is to really ask good questions of the hiring committee, if there's time. Here are some questions I asked them:
What types of staff development have you done in the past year or two (get specific, it makes it easier to answer) that have really made a difference in your team's morale?
What are the qualities of your most effective teachers?
What types of technology are available to your teachers? What types would you like to see me utilize if you were to offer me the position?
What is the parental involvement like? Community involvement?
Since athletes have sports teams to participate in, what does your school offer the more creative students? What about a literary journal? If not, would you be willing to let me begin a program, club, or publication?
Good luck everyone!