Teacher Interview Questions
Interview questions teachers must answers are different than other job interview questions. How often do non-teachers have to deal with kids that have emotional problems (hoping your own kids don't have them)? The better you research the elements directly related to teaching, the better you'll perform at a job interview.
In certain circumstances, such as when researching answers to interview questions for special education teacher, you may need to visit a class and do a fact-gathering interview with a current special education teacher. Special ed kids are so unique and trying to understand their needs by knowing only a few of them, is quite difficult. It takes a lot of patience and commitment to be a teacher and even more to be a special ed teacher.
Here are some examples of interview questions for teachers that you should prepare for:
Q - Why is becoming a teacher important to you?
Q - Have you been faced with a situation where your commitment to something has been challenged? What did you do to get re-energized?
Q - Has there been a time when you've been criticized by a student, perhaps told that you were the worst teacher they've ever had? If so, how did you handle it?
Q - If I were your principal, what would some of your goals be for the coming year?
Q - Some people say you should demand respect. Do you agree or disagree?
Q - How would you rank these in importance of these competencies? Justify your response. Planning, discipline, following procedures, evaluation.
Q - How have you handled a student that has confidence issues and reports to you that no one likes them.
Q - Are you an empathetic person? Give an example.
Q - What would you consider to be characteristics of a good listener?
Q - How do you remain objective in emotional situations?
Q - How do you react to minor acting out in class by students, perhaps dropping pencils, throwing paper wads, or not making deadlines?
Q - What would you consider to be some of the most significant risks to students today?
Q - What type of rapport or relationship do you think a teacher should build with students?
Q - Was there a time when you've had a particularly bad relationship with a student or parent? How did you resolve it?
Q - How do you give your students recognition?
Q - How do you handle a child who seems gifted, but is a discipline problem?
Q - During your teaching experience, were you ever involved with a situation at school involving racial tension? If so, how did you handle it?
Q - How do you establish authority/discipline? What do you do when a discipline problem arises?
Q - What is your educational philosophy?
Q - If you could create the ideal school, what would it be like?
Q - What do you like most/dislike most about teaching?
Q - How would you handle making a difficult phone call to a parent?
You owe it to yourself to find more information directly related to getting a teaching job. The book Guide to Getting the Teaching Job of Your Dreams provides insights derived from experts in the field at a pretty amazing price.
