8 Common Teacher Interview Questions and Answers

Question 1 - How do you view team-teaching? Do you find it beneficial? Please explain.

Question 2 - What are your greatest strengths?

Question 3 - What is your biggest weakness?

Question 4 - Let's imagine a teacher interview for a grade one teaching position and the interviewer asks: "Describe your classroom's physical appearance."

Question 5 - What makes you want to work for the school district?

Question 6 - How do you handle classroom discipline?

Question 7 - How would you describe a successful principal?

Question 8 - Can we answer any questions?

Question 1 - How do you view team-teaching? Do you find it beneficial? Please explain.

Answer - Most teachers have experienced a team-teaching environment at some point in their careers. Even student teaching can be seen as a team teaching experience as you are teaching with your master teacher. If you’ve experienced team teaching, then you definitely have an opinion about it. You will understand the benefits of it, as well as maybe have some reservations, as it depends on the individuals that make up the teaching team that will determine how effective it can be.

When the interviewer asks this question, they are wanting to find out what kind of team player you are. They want to discover if you are adaptable, if you enjoy working in a team, if you have experience with team teaching, and what your opinions are.

When formulating your answer, you will want to highlight some of the positive attributes of team teaching, such as this example:

“Team teaching is an effective strategy for teaching students in large groups. It encourages teachers to collaborate with one another and to brainstorm new teaching methods and ideas. It is always better to have more than one point of view and multiple people contributing to the success of students.”

In your answer, you should discuss your past team teaching experiences and the positive outcomes that resulted from them.

If you haven't team taught before, you can express your willingness and eagerness to participate in a team teaching environment. You can explain that you have enjoyed working within a teamwork environment in the past and that you are sure you will enjoy and benefit from a team teaching setting in the future. As well, if you have thoughts on how to make team teaching work well, feel free to share them with the interview… chances are they will be impressed.

Additionally, remember that it is incredibly important to answer all your teacher interview questions honestly.

Preparing your answers ahead of time and practicing your interview skills can help you to deliver honest and well-organized answers that highlight your skills and the needs of the school. If you have been involved in collaborative team teaching, you will know there are many challenges and rewards. When answering an interview question, always speak in a positive tone.

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Question 2 - What are your greatest strengths?

Answer - This question will probably be asked. Now, if you researched the district/school and found out what they are looking for in a candidate, you will be able to focus your response on that information, keeping in mind it is important to tell the truth. With every response you must show your VALUE to the district. This will also give them an idea on how you view your talents and skills as a teacher. Perception is critical... you must be able to confidently discuss your skills using a convincing approach.

It is important the answer shows your hard/tangible skills. For example, classroom management, curriculum development, or technology integration. These skills will show the interviewer(s) what you can do on the job. Don't stop there, you will set yourself apart from the pack if you can back up your claims with actual stories. This will build credibility... it shows you really are good at what you are claiming. Tell them about what you have done to incorporate technology into the classroom and what was the result. The result part of the story sells value... and that produces job offers.

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Question 3 - What is your biggest weakness?

Answer - Your response could include something that may have been a challenge in the past, which you have taken steps to rectify. It is important to be truthful, they will be testing your honesty. In addition, they will be checking to see if you provide a weakness that is critical to success in the position. For example, the interview will likely end quickly if you answer you have a difficult time management the classroom. The key to answering the question is to turn a negative into a positive.

I don't suggest using that the traditional statement, "I'm a perfectionist", it is often overused, and will tend to sound phony. It is important you don't get defensive and try to justify why you are weak in a particular subject area, such as social studies. This would make a bad impression, because it may be relevant to the position that you are seeking. Whatever you decide to use, ensure it is not one of the key skills of the position you are seeking. In other words, don't pinpoint classroom discipline and/management or subject area if you are seeking a teaching position.

Think of this question as an opportunity to sell yourself. Here is an example: You wouldn't say, "I have a difficult time organizing my day." Instead, rephrase the answer by saying. "There are so many creative activities I plan for my students and class time is limited. It is difficult to incorporate all of the activities that I would like my students to learn from. Over time, I have realized to prioritize what lesson plans are the most important to enhance my student learning. I now realize that I can't do everything I would like to."

The above example shows you are excited about designing new and creative lessons for your students. In their mind, this will not be a negative. It will position you that much closer to getting a job offer.

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Question 4 - Let's imagine a teacher interview question for a grade one teaching position where the interviewer asks: "Describe your classroom's physical appearance." Having prepared ahead of time, you understand the interviewer[s] attempt to determine:

Your teaching style,

Your ability to effectively manage the class,

The level and quality of student interaction,

Your teaching philosophy,

Answer - Within this context, you might respond:

"Upon entering my classroom you will find a lively and colorful room completely centered upon children and active learning. Sight words, the alphabet, numbers, and inspirational quotes cover the walls while large bulletin boards proudly display students' work. A large area contains a carpeted reading or group corner specifically for storytelling, show-and-tell, weather discussions and calendar and day-of-the-week conversations. This classroom includes an abundance of age appropriate reading materials and student mailboxes where children place personal journals, home reading books and workbooks in the morning and then collect newsletters or other parent communication at the end of the day."

NOTE:

Presenting floor plans successfully used in the past demonstrates strong organization and preparation skills. Indicate various potential seating plans used throughout the year and offer pictures of your old classrooms as a way means to provide the principal and interviewing board a first-hand view of your potential classroom... As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words."

Remember, each person's answer will vary depending upon teaching style and philosophy. The district representatives will look to see if your style is compatible with their needs. Thoroughly researching each specific district needs will allow you to tailor your answers which is the key to a successful interview.

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Question 5 - What makes you want to work for the school district?

Answer - Your preparation and research is imperative to successfully answer this question. Provide a few reasons why you're interested in the school or district, and what about the school community sparked your interest in the position. What is your personal experience with the school or district? What do you know about its’ student body, faculty members, industry reputation, community involvement, educational goals and objectives, upcoming initiatives, demographics, or extracurricular activities? This information will help you to accurately respond to the above question.

The interviewer is looking for evidence that you really know why you want to work there. This will show them that you didn’t just send out applications and hope for the best. This research will help immensely when answering other questions throughout the interview. So, plan to dedicate your time and energy on this homework. Effective research will help to tailor your answers to the question above. It is wrong to tailor your answer with incorrect information - preparation and honesty is the key to a successful interview.

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Question 6 - How do you handle classroom discipline?

Answer - This answer is a very personal one. Everyone will have a different answer because it depends on your teaching style, the grade for which you are interviewing, and your past teaching experiences. The interviewer will be looking to see if you have a discipline plan, if you know how to implement it, and if you think that discipline is an important part of teaching. What I have found from coaching clients is they fail to provide a clear action plan that can be backed up with classroom management examples. It is also important to find out what the school or district’s philosophy concerning discipline is, as this will give you some additional background information from which you can formulate your answer. A few things to bring up when answering this question include:

The importance of developing ground rules the first week of class. This allows the students to understand what is and isn't acceptable behavior.

The rules should be discussed and agreed upon by the whole class. This makes the students accountable and responsible.

You may want to touch on your philosophy of classroom discipline. This of course will depend on your teaching style. However, if you can show that you reduce negative behaviors by offering the students an intellectually stimulating, organized, and respectful environment then this is what you should say.

Give an example of your plan; use a real situation to show your expertise in this very important area. Whether you use the red light/green light method, time-outs, or you remove the student from the classroom, it is important that you can back up why your method is effective by providing examples.

It is also important to indicate that there are always two sides to every story. So, if the action involves the discipline of two students, you must listen to both sides. Indicate that you try to get the students to resolve their own disagreements, which may involve compromise. And that you end the discussion with the students by asking them, "How will you handle the situation next time?"

Again, you must be honest when answering this question or any other question during the interview; but, by organizing your thoughts and examples, you will be able to make your response concise and truthful, while showing your skills to the district.

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Question 7 - How would you describe a successful principal?

Answer - By asking this question, the hiring committee is attempting to assess the following:

Do you understand what traits contribute to the success of a principal. As a teacher, what traits do you value most.

Your response may indicate or suggest possible conflicts with the current principal.

Responses to this question may include:

It is important that a successful principal...

has a vision and a plan to reach that vision...combined with the ability to bring faculty members together to form a cooperative team and motivate them to reach district goals and objectives.

be visible... the principal's presence should be evident on a continual basis. He or she must be easily accessible to both students and teachers.

has a great sense of humor, and can communicate effectively with a diverse group of individuals.

genuinely cares about the students, teachers, parents, and the district.

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I hope you enjoyed reading the above common teaching interview questions and answers. The last question is a great one, but it may not be one they ask you, instead you'll be asking them.

Question 8 - Can we answer any questions?

Answer - Your interview experience may not be completely one sided. In addition to answering the interviewer's questions, you should also have an opportunity to ask the interviewer some questions. This is your chance to once again impress your interviewers by asking important, insightful questions about the position and the school. If you ask the right questions at your teaching interview, the answers will also help you to determine if the position and school is a good fit. Plus, it shows the interviewers that you are genuinely interested in the position. If you’ve developed a rapport with your interviewer and therefore feel comfortable, you may be able to ask questions throughout the interview. If you don't get a chance to ask any questions during the interview, you will be given an opportunity to ask some near the end of your meeting. Whether you are a new teacher or an experienced teacher, make sure you take advantage of this amazing chance to show you have researched the school district.

So, what kinds of questions should you ask at the end of the interview?

First, you should try to ask only those questions that you can’t find the answers to on their website or some other easily accessible resource. For instance, asking how many staff members are there or what is the student population is something that can be easily found on any school website.

You should also think about what questions you’d like to ask before the interview even begins. This way you won’t be stuck trying to come up with a good ones at the last minute. These should be genuine questions that you truly would like to know the answer to. Remember, this is really your only chance to determine whether this position is a good fit for you. You want to make sure that you will be happy in this position.

If you can come armed with two or three really good questions to ask, you are in a great spot. You can even practice asking the questions you came up with ahead of time so that you are confident when it comes time to ask them. I’d also recommend writing them down on paper so you can refer to them during the interview. And don’t be afraid to take notes when you get an answer to your question. If it is important, you’ll want to remember the answer!

Here are a few examples of appropriate questions you could ask your interviewer. Remember, only ask them if they are not addressed during the interview. You don’t want to ask a question that was already covered earlier in the interview! You will look like you were not paying attention.

Additionally, some questions you can ask can serve to further sell yourself and your skills to the school community. For instance:

“I have a background in coaching team sports, what types of extracurriculars are available for me to participate in?”

This shows the interviewer that you are not only willing to volunteer your time outside of the classroom, but also that you are a true team player.

Potential questions to ask your interviewers include:

In past positions, I have always strived to have parents participate in the classroom community, are the parents at your school active within the community? What types of activities or ways do parents participate in school life?

I am passionate about incorporating educational technology into learning, what types of technology do you use at the school?

Are there opportunities for teachers to collaborate in teams? What types of teamwork are available?

I enjoy continuing to learn, what kinds of professional learning opportunities are there for staff?

I enjoy taking part in, and helping to develop, new educational programs and projects. Is the school involved in introducing any new programs or initiatives in the next school year? Will there be an opportunity to help out or participate in any new developments?

What are the major issues or goals that your school is working on? What are your current focuses?

If you are a new teacher or beginning teacher, you may want to ask: "Does your school have a mentor teacher program?"

Will there be a second round of interviews? When do you expect a decision to be made? Will you contact every candidate regardless of whether they landed the job or not?

These are just a few of the many different types of questions you can ask your interviewers. You want to make sure you ask at least one question, but also try to limit your questions to three or four.

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Did you learn anything from reading these 8 common teacher interview questions and answers? I hope you did and are now more prepared to showcase the value you can offer a school/district.

Do you feel prepared for your next teacher interview? Preparation is the key to confidence and practicing your answers to a variety of teacher interview questions will help you immensely. If you’d like to gain some confidence in this area, we can help! We have two interview preparation eBooks, A+ Teachers' Interview Edge and A+ Principals' Interview Edge, that will help you prepare for your next education interview so you can land your dream job.

Have questions, please connect by sending an email to Candace or call toll-free at 1 877 738-8052. I would enjoy chatting with you.