Teacher Interview Tips: How to Land that Teaching Job

 

 

The school year is drawing to a close and some of you may have decided that the place you are currently employed is not the place you want to be employed when school starts again next year. So, you have decided to hit the pavement and look for another teaching position. If you are one of these educators, there are some things you should do as you prepare for your interview.

Teacher Beware

Be warned. Some principals have confessed to monitoring interviewees from the moment they get out of the car. Why? So they can see if you appear energetic or if you appear disinterested or bored. These principals also intentionally show up a few minutes late in order to see how you will handle the time while you are waiting. So, don’t just go to the interview. Appear excited from the time that you get out of the car until the time that you finish the interview. Bring along some material that you can read while you wait for your interview to begin.

Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses

I have been asked over and over again at teaching interviews what is my greatest strength and what do I feel is my weakness. So, don’t be surprised when you are asked this questioned. Think about this before you go to the interview and have an answer readily available. Sell yourself to your interviewer. Highlight all of your accomplishments. However, don’t say that you don’t have any weakness. Principals and interview team members are checking your intergrity. They have already called your former employers and checked your record. Remember everyone has at least one weakness. It is okay to mention one “minor” problem that you might have. However, don’t give your interviewer reasons not to hire you.

The Reason You Left Your Old Job

This is a question is to be expected at any job interview. So, you be prepared to answer.  Be as honest as you can, but as careful as possible. Again, don’t give the interviewer a reason not to hire you. They want a team player so make sure that you don’t bad mouth your boss or co-workers. How do you handle discipline in your classroom?

Test Scores

Test scores rule the teaching world. You can’t escape them if you work in a public school. Be prepared to answer questions about your test scores record. Also, be prepared to discuss how you plan to contribute to increasing the school’s test scores.

Sample Work

Take samples of your students’ work, lesson plans, and other activities with you. Combine this into a portfolio and have it handy at your interview.

Before you head off to that teaching interview, be prepared.

For more tips, read my other article.
http://www.careerpath360.com/index.php/common-teacher-interview-questions-79/

How to Foster a Love of Writing in Your Students

 

 

The first of school, my students could have cared less about writing. It was not something that they did often, and when they did have to complete a writing assignment, they didn’t like it. Now, school is almost over for the year, and I can’t get them to think about much else. They write and write often. And, the great thing is that I don’t have to tell them to write. In fact, they write on their own, and they can’t wait for me to critique their work. So, how did I get those reluctant writers to begin writing more?

Be an Example

As a teacher, we must lead by example. My students know that I loved to write. They also know that I write often. It helped that I write for the local newspaper, and many of my students had read some of my articles. They later learned that I write on-line and blog. I frequently shared with them the reasons that I love to write. I talked passionately about my writing, and my students saw my excitement and wanted to be a part of it.

Publish Student Work

Many of my students did not know that they could have their writings published. So, when they saw my writing on-line, they became motivated to write their own short stories, poems, and articles. I then made it a point to submit their work to any and every writing contest that they qualified for. Yes, it was a lot of work. However, it was worth it. A few of my students won writing contests and were recognized for their work. This help to make the other students work harder and write more.

Encourage Expression

Even though my students are pre-teens, they are very opinionated. They loved to let you know what they think and how they feel. So, I let them. No, I don’t let them their feelings out or disrupt my class. Instead,  I have them transfer their feelings to a journal or diary.

Use the Local Newspaper

Because my students know I write for the local newspaper, they are always telling me about things that are going on in the community or in the school. Instead of grabbing the scoop myself, I encourage them to compose new stories on their own. These are critiqued, and if they are interesting, I submit them to the local paper.

Getting students interested in writing can be difficult. However, I have found that if you show your students how much you love writing and the world opportunities that it can open up, they too will develop a love for writing.