I really need your help in things that are hot button in first grade or things I should be prepared to answer.
Any help you can give would be amazing. I really would like this job. I have been subbing for 2 years now and this is my dream job in my dream school and building.
Thanks so much
I have so far
strengths/weakness
why should we hire you
how would you customize/differentiate?
how should you handle add/adhd children
how imp do you think spec ed teacher relationships are
what are 3 goals you would like to have set for your first year
what does it mean to have developmentally appropriate material?
What is your best lesson you taught? Worst?
What was the most difficult situation you have handled?
How do you handle an angry parent?
Thanks for the any help you could give in relation to first grade!
Great start on questions, Learnalways! I think you have a good handle on what the interview team will be looking for.
I would be prepared to talk about your class management policy - building a community, establishing and/or reinforcing school/class rules, and logical consequences.
I like your comment about special ed teacher relationships - I would broaden that to all colleagues - special ed, resource, reading specialists, esl teachers, and special area teachers and teammates. Working together, learning from veteran colleagues, sharing what you know - these are all important traits.
I wish you good luck - Just as a personal aside, when I started out, I had an interview in a school that was my 'dream' school, where I had subbed, established friendships, etc. My interview was not my best, but they knew me from working with me, so I got the job. Just to say, don't be too hard on yourself if you get nervous.
Good luck! Last year was my first year teaching so the questions are still kind of fresh...some different ones that they asked me were:
-Define a balanced literacy block for us and explain how you would implement it in a classroom
-Describe a lesson where you had to differentiate
-What would you do if a parent told you their child did not like coming to school?
-How do you keep parents informed?
- What types of assessment data do you keep?
- Describe the importance of community within a school.
That's all I can think of.....I remember studying TONS of questions before I went, and then when I got there, there were a few that I really couldn't prepare for. Do you have a portfolio? I found that extremely helpful, because I was able to haul out examples and if I didn't know one answer as well, I could point them in a slightly different direction by talking about something that was related. Good luck!!
At the end of the interview they may ask you if you have any questions. You should have one in mind. Perhaps you could ask if they have a mentoring program for beginning or new teachers.
I don't know if they still ask this, but they may ask why you want to be a teacher.
I used to sit in on teacher interviews and you would not believe how many interview candidates answered for the summers off. Of course they were not hired.
After teaching for 23 years in New Orleans, I relocated to Florida after Hurricaine Katrina. I hadn't been on an interview in MANY years.
My best advice would be to bring a notebook, and take notes during your interview- even jotting down the question they ask you in short form to take a "think time" moment before answering..
My principal was very impressed that I was taking notes and taking the interview seriously.
*** One of our coworkers changed schools and my principal had 200 people apply for that ONE job.
My philosophy is to be Fair, firm and consistent.
Differentiated instruction for students in first grade is essential because all children have different learning styles (VATK)
Tactile,kinethetic, auditory, and visual.
Finding their learning style will give you an opening to the door of their success.
Maybe even creating a "Theme" for your classroom with some ideas from pro teacher and making a story board /craft/ learning games
would be a creative approach.
I was a first yr teacher last yr but this year I actually got to help hire a new 1st grade team member.
Somequestions we ask:
How do you teach reading in other subject areas across the curriculum?
How do you teach 1st graders to read?
How would you check for understanding during a lesson?
Describe your classroom management style (and they did not want to hear just about how you would be disciplining)
Then of course having questions at the end is in my opinion VERY important. You want the school to know that you really have an interest in them, not just applying because you want a job anywhere (even if that's the case ) Just make sure the questions aren't already answered on the school website, because then they also think you were lazy with your research...sigh, it's a tricky game!
Good luck, I think you're getting lots of great feedback on here & the fact that you're preparing will help!!
When I was interviewed recently, the principal was very much interested in examples of how I collaborated with teammates, specialists, etc. For a lot of principals, this is a very telling piece of information. They are looking to hire people for the long term who know how to get along and work together. Let's face it we can all have good information on pedagogy and methodology; however, not everyone knows how to be a good teammate. Best of luck to you.
I think it is important to know the school and their curriculum and what they do. I'd look at websites, including teachers, so you have a clue.
Also, too many teacher candidates assume we know what they mean but we really want examples, without looking like you know too much.
Thank you so much for all of the great replies! I have been in this school/ district for 2 years as a long term sub, so I feel ok about the interview. I want to make sure any competition is taken out. I think all of your questions will help so much! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Suggestions:
- Being a team player; collaborating with other teachers; conferring with support staff in building;
-Parent/Teacher communication-newsletters, e-mail, etc.
-Being a reflective/flexible teacher
-Think about what your reading/math/writing program might entail (curriculum & philosophy)---reading workshop, writing workshop, "hands-on" materials and lessons
-Integration of technology
Here are some questions that I was asked during my 1st grade interview:
- How do you know that a child is learning in your class?
- What experience do you have with the RtI process?
- What is your experience with using literacy centers?
- How do you teach reading? writing? math?
- How do you deal with difficult parents?
- Tell me about a time when you collaborated with a colleague.
- Tell me about a unit of study that you created. What worked, what didn't, what would you change?
07-30-2010, 01:29 AM
) Just make sure the questions aren't already answered on the school website, because then they also think you were lazy with your research...sigh, it's a tricky game!
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