*Interviews
The following are questions or requests that may be asked during an interview for an elementary teaching position. (Also see “Interview TIPS for Prospective Elementary Teachers”). Since an interview rarely lasts more than thirty minutes and may be shorter, responses need to be concise and specific. Be positive as you honestly and enthusiastically share your background, experience, and knowledge.
GENERAL
What is your philosophy of education?
Why are you interested in working in this school (district)?
What do you know about our school, students, and/or community?
What do you understand this school's mission statement to mean? How does your teaching philosophy fit with that mission?
What do you see as the greatest challenge facing teachers today?
Define professionalism and what it means to you.
What do you look for in an administrator?
What questions do you have for us?
What is your philosophy of education?
Why are you interested in working in this school (district)?
What do you know about our school, students, and/or community?
What do you understand this school's mission statement to mean? How does your teaching philosophy fit with that mission?
What do you see as the greatest challenge facing teachers today?
Define professionalism and what it means to you.
What do you look for in an administrator?
What questions do you have for us?
PERSONAL
When did you decide to become a teacher and why?
Tell us about yourself, your background, and your experience working with children.
Describe yourself using five adjectives.
Describe how your academic training and work related experiences qualify you for this position.
What do you think sets you apart from other applicants?
What strengths do you have that would assist you in being a successful teacher?
Name two areas of weakness that you are working to improve.
What special skills, talents, or knowledge will you bring to our school?
What concerns do you have about your student teaching experience or your last teaching position?
When did you decide to become a teacher and why?
Tell us about yourself, your background, and your experience working with children.
Describe yourself using five adjectives.
Describe how your academic training and work related experiences qualify you for this position.
What do you think sets you apart from other applicants?
What strengths do you have that would assist you in being a successful teacher?
Name two areas of weakness that you are working to improve.
What special skills, talents, or knowledge will you bring to our school?
What concerns do you have about your student teaching experience or your last teaching position?
TEACHING
What qualities do you feel are most important for a teacher to have? (See “Successful Teachers.”)
What role do state and national standards play in your classroom teaching?
What grade do you enjoy teaching the most?
What are the state standards for the grade you hope to teach and how will you incorporate them into your teaching?
What are the developmental needs and characteristics of children in this grade?
What subject are you passionate about and how will you share your enthusiasm with your students?
What would we see if we walked into your classroom?
Describe your style of teaching and give examples.
What are your expectations for your students?
What current reading and math instructional practices are you comfortable using?
What qualities do you feel are most important for a teacher to have? (See “Successful Teachers.”)
What role do state and national standards play in your classroom teaching?
What grade do you enjoy teaching the most?
What are the state standards for the grade you hope to teach and how will you incorporate them into your teaching?
What are the developmental needs and characteristics of children in this grade?
What subject are you passionate about and how will you share your enthusiasm with your students?
What would we see if we walked into your classroom?
Describe your style of teaching and give examples.
What are your expectations for your students?
What current reading and math instructional practices are you comfortable using?
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT & DISCIPLINE
How do you minimize conflict in your classroom?
What are your classroom rules and how are they established? (See “Elementary Classrooms Rules and Management.”)
What routines or procedures would you use and how would you introduce them to your students?
How do you acknowledge students who are following the rules?
How do you help students develop problem solving skills?
What approach to classroom management has worked for you?
What would you do if your management plan did not work?
Explain how your past experiences will help you manage classroom behavior.
Do you use tangible rewards? (See “Rewards in the Classroom”)
What is your approach to discipline and how do you maintain it?
How do you minimize conflict in your classroom?
What are your classroom rules and how are they established? (See “Elementary Classrooms Rules and Management.”)
What routines or procedures would you use and how would you introduce them to your students?
How do you acknowledge students who are following the rules?
How do you help students develop problem solving skills?
What approach to classroom management has worked for you?
What would you do if your management plan did not work?
Explain how your past experiences will help you manage classroom behavior.
Do you use tangible rewards? (See “Rewards in the Classroom”)
What is your approach to discipline and how do you maintain it?
ASSESSMENT
How do you determine each individual child's potential?
How do you measure a child’s educational achievement in ways other than by testing?
What kinds of assessment tools have you used?
Describe the kinds of tests you give to measure student mastery.
How do you prepare children to take standardized tests?
How do you determine each individual child's potential?
How do you measure a child’s educational achievement in ways other than by testing?
What kinds of assessment tools have you used?
Describe the kinds of tests you give to measure student mastery.
How do you prepare children to take standardized tests?
PARENTS
What kind of relationship do you want to foster with the parents of your students?
How do you enhance communication with parents?
Why are parent conferences important?
How do you use parent volunteers?
How do you plan to include parents in their child’s classroom? (See “Increasing Parent Involvement in School.”)
Under what circumstances will you contact a parent?
Describe a time when you dealt with an angry parent.
How would you assist an overly involved parent in becoming less involved?
How will you involve a parent of a child who is consistently angry and rebellious? (See “Guidelines for Educator-Parent Conferences Concerning Angry Children.”)
What kind of relationship do you want to foster with the parents of your students?
How do you enhance communication with parents?
Why are parent conferences important?
How do you use parent volunteers?
How do you plan to include parents in their child’s classroom? (See “Increasing Parent Involvement in School.”)
Under what circumstances will you contact a parent?
Describe a time when you dealt with an angry parent.
How would you assist an overly involved parent in becoming less involved?
How will you involve a parent of a child who is consistently angry and rebellious? (See “Guidelines for Educator-Parent Conferences Concerning Angry Children.”)
SPECIAL NEEDS
How do you feel about having children with special needs in your classroom?
What would you do before recommending a child for special services?
How do you assist 501 students and special services students?
How do you teach a student with an Individualized Education Plan?
What kinds of adaptations have you used? Were they successful? Why or why not?
What materials have you found most effective when teaching special needs students?
What do you do to support and challenge students with exceptional abilities?
Describe your experience collaborating with special education teachers.
How do you feel about having children with special needs in your classroom?
What would you do before recommending a child for special services?
How do you assist 501 students and special services students?
How do you teach a student with an Individualized Education Plan?
What kinds of adaptations have you used? Were they successful? Why or why not?
What materials have you found most effective when teaching special needs students?
What do you do to support and challenge students with exceptional abilities?
Describe your experience collaborating with special education teachers.
SITUATIONS
What would you do if:
- One of your students is homeless? (See “Educating Homeless Children.”)
- One of your students does not turn in any homework?
- One of your students refused to do any classroom assignments?
- One of your students is absent more than he/she attends school?
- One of your students confides that he/she is being molested? (See “Helping the Sexually Abused Child.”)
- One of your parents is telling lies to other parents concerning your teaching?
*Conferences
+Teacher-made interview questions for students
*What subjects do you like/ dislike? Why?
*What makes learning fun for you? And when
is not fun?
*Do you participate in any activities?
*Do you work hard at school?
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