1. Why did you decide to become a teacher?
This is probably the most often asked teacher question which means whoever is interviewing you has probably heard just about every story in the book… Giving a standard “because I love helping people learn” isn’t going to cut it here.
You want to give an answer that is heartfelt and genuine and really illustrates why you chose this field. Take time before your interview to really reflect on why you’re doing what you’re doing. Was there someone in your past who inspired you and you want to pay that forward and inspire others? Draw from specific examples. Make your response thoughtful, genuine, and honest.
2. Why do you want to teach at this school?
This question is another common teaching interview question and a perfect example of why preparing and practicing your answers before you get to the interview is critical! Use this opportunity to provide specific reasons why you’re interested in the school by drawing on the information you gathered during your research.
Whoever is interviewing you is genuinely interested in knowing if you’re actually interested in the position or if you’re just sending out resumes and showing up for whoever calls you no matter where they are. Having specific answers tailored to your audience shows enthusiasm, initiative and dedication, all qualities that are valuable!
3. What can you bring to our school that makes you unique?
This question is pretty straight forward, and the perfect opportunity for you to really let your unique qualities shine. Talk about activities you’ve participated in or passions you have that can easily translate into teachable moments and classroom activities that fall outside the usual curriculum that is currently being enacted. Don’t criticize what they’re doing, but explain how what you’re bringing will augment and compliment what they’ve already got in place.
4. What frustrates you the most in a classroom?
This question allows your interviewers to get to know what it takes to ruffle your feathers and how you’ll behave when faced with that situation. Find a situation that is fairly common for all teachers and then explain how you’ve dealt with that frustration. Remember, you want to focus on positive aspects of your teaching style, so if you’re still frustrated with a situation and haven’t figured out how to work around it yet, maybe don’t use that one as your example.
5. What is your teaching philosophy?
Everyone will have a unique answer to this question as everyone’s experiences with education, experience, and own personal history will determine how they’ve shaped their own philosophy. What drives you to teach? What is your approach to teaching and what guides you and how you run your classroom? Take time before you get into the interview to really focus on what your philosophy is and how you apply it every day.
6. What makes you a good fit for this school?
This question reveals whether you researched the school and district. If you’re wondering how to prepare for a teaching interview, conducting thorough research about the student body, how the community views the school, test scores and other aspects of the school district shows you’re serious about the position.
When answering this question, be sure to demonstrate your knowledge of both the school and its district. Explain why this information compels your interest in the institution. A strong answer could include information about recent test scores, specific programs or awards earned by the school.
7. Have your lesson plans been affected by Common Core standards or standards at the local and state levels?
Preparing for standardized testing is a crucial part of the teaching profession, especially for those in public education. When answering this question you should describe how you incorporated different standards into your lesson plan, as well as how you develop a robust curriculum that isn’t based on the standards alone.
8. How Do You Motivate Students?
Similar to the question above, interviewers want to see how you influence students to do what you need them to do. Findley adds that this is an especially important thing to vet for when hiring virtual teachers, because motivating others over video requires a lot more creativity than when you’re teaching in person.
9 Have you ever used differentiated instruction, and if so how?
Yes, I have. Differentiated instruction can be wonderful for both gifted children and children who are struggling with a particular concept. For the gifted student, differentiated instruction allows them to be challenged by material that is at a higher level than their classmates. For the struggling student, allowing the student to revisit particular concepts allows them to catch up with their grade level.
10. What positive changes do you expect from a student you teach over the period?
The prime objective will be to see notable progress in written and oral exams. In the long run, I look forward to seeing some other positive changes in their attitude like being ready to learn new things, a positive attitude towards novel ideas as well as being actively involved in learning.
11. What are the responsibilities of a middle school teacher?
You can use this question to make them understand that you are well aware of your role in the school. But you can stay simple by listing out your responsibilities like setting up lessons, conducting and grading tests and tracking and monitoring the performance.
12. How would you turn parents into teaching partners?
Maintain good communication with the students’ parents right from the beginning and try to involve them in the school activities whenever possible.
Make sure that they are being updated about the progress of the child.
Make them a part of your teaching strategies and seek their help to make a child’s learning comfortable at home.