In this article, we provide a list of 50 questions that a hiring manager might ask you during a teacher interview. Interviewers often tailor questions to their institution so it is wise to consider your answers to these common questions and how they may apply to your potential school or position.
When youre asked this question during an interview, youll have an opportunity to discuss your dedication to teaching. Every teacher has their reasons for entering this profession so feel free to provide personal anecdotes in your answer. Be sure to explain your passion for teaching and any person or experience that inspired you to enter the profession.
Example answer: “I became a teacher because of my high school algebra teacher’s impact on my life. Math doesn’t come naturally to me but she took the time not only to explain the material in a way that made sense to me but also helped me understand that every form of intelligence is equally valuable. There’s no job more important than teaching the future leaders of our world the information they need to know, but more importantly, showing them their worth, potential and ability to form their own opinions by thinking critically and observing the world around them.”
Example answer: “I am inspired by this school’s reputation for educational excellence and for encouraging creativity through its renowned arts program. I note there has been a dip in the AP test scores in recent years, so I am extremely motivated to introduce my teaching strategies. I feel confident that I could help students improve their scores and opportunities for success.”
Every teacher has a unique way of teaching but different students thrive under different teaching styles so a teacher must be adaptable. A good answer explains what characteristics you think are most important for a teacher to possess, how these traits benefit students and how you cultivate those qualities in yourself.
Example answer: “I believe that students want their teachers to be dedicated and approachable, and they can tell when a teacher doesnt possess these qualities. If students know youre working hard and want to support them as they learn, theyre more likely to succeed. For this reason, I keep an open-door policy at all times and strive to build rapport with each student.”
Example answer: “Teachers need to have flexibility, compassion, self-discipline, drive and patience to reach their students. Teachers also need to consider state and local testing objectives when devising lesson plans and making sure students understand the materials on which theyll be tested. Teachers must be able to alter their styles so that every one of their students can learn effectively.”
Teachers must handle issues with discipline from time to time and how discipline is addressed is an especially important aspect of elementary teaching interviews. Discipline is a vital part of controlling a classroom and depends on the age of the students, district policies and teaching style. To answer this question, you should carefully describe your approach to discipline and how handling it correctly can affect the classroom.
Example answer: “I believe that a teacher cant be effective without the right disciplinary approach. I prefer to explain whats expected of my students, so theyre set up for success. Without discipline, there wont be respect, and keeping students accountable may be difficult. After researching several methods, I’ve found that a rewards system is the best method for avoiding bad behavior. While there are certainly still cases that need to be addressed with the school’s behavior program, using rewards enforces positive behavior and gives children a goal to strive for.”
You may be asked this question to determine how you would facilitate relationships with students parents. Parents are vital to their childs educational success and teachers must communicate with parents clearly and effectively. A good answer will emphasize a parents role in their childs education and will explain how you plan to involve parents.
Example answer: “A childs education depends on the support of his or her parents. I believe that engaging with parents and making sure that they have an active role in their childs success is vital. I give parents my contact information so they can get in touch and ask any questions they have about how their child is performing. I also provide updates about what my students have learned and accomplished.”
Example answer: “You must take standards into account when developing a curriculum. Successfully structuring a school year depends on effectively planning a curriculum and regularly assessing students. My approach is to develop my lessons by building them around educational standards, but I dont only teach with the testing in mind. My lesson plans include more information than just what the students need to know for the standardized test. Regular assessments let me gauge how well my students understand the material, and I use my curriculum to make sure my students have acquired the skills that theyll need for the test.”
Example answer: “I think that technology in the classroom can be a valuable tool in helping students learn. That being said, technology can also be distracting, so setting expectations for appropriately using tech is critical. Students should be able to use the technology for learning in addition to basic skills so I give them assignments that require advanced use of the technology to complete the work. For example, I may include formatting requirements with their writing assignments, so theyre progressively learning to format throughout the year. This allows the students to become more comfortable with different platforms and sets them up for success in their future workplace.”
It is common for employers to inquire about your teaching methods and philosophies to determine if you’d be a good fit for their school. Many schools may have established ways of teaching and you must express your openness and confidence in your own cultivated opinions about the best ways to teach.
Example answer: “My teaching philosophy is to make my lesson plans relatable. In many cases, when a student can’t identify with the material, it’s harder for them to gather meaning. As a literature teacher, my goal is to help students empathize with characters, places and concepts, especially when those things are different from their own life experiences. As a student, I found stories more memorable when my teachers helped me draw parallels. As a student teacher, I like to make comparisons between older texts, like Shakespeare and modern events. For example, comparing events in the plays to events in pop culture. This not only helps students understand the stories but also helps them draw their own conclusions.”
Example answer: “My peers and students would describe me as encouraging, creative and inspiring. I love planning fun activities for my classroom and involving other classrooms as well. For example, last year I organized Pi Day on March 14 for the whole six-grade class. I planned scavenger hunts, relay races and trivia all based around math. It was great to see all the students work together, have fun and learn.”
This question is typically asked at the end of the interview and is a critical part of the interview. Asking thoughtful and researched questions shows your interest in the position and supports a memorable final impression. Come prepared to the interview with five to 10 questions and jot down or make a mental note of any new questions that arise throughout the interview.
- Why did you decide to become a teacher? …
- How do you cope with stress? …
- What is your teaching philosophy? …
- What did you like/dislike about working remotely? …
- How do you use technology in the classroom? …
- Describe your classroom management structure.
TEACHER INTERVIEW Questions and Answers! (PASS Teaching Interview)
15 Less Common Teacher Interview Questions [11–25]
The next 15 interview questions for teachers aren’t on the A-list.
As one of my teachers used to say, prepare for them anyway because they may be on the test.
You never know which teaching job interview question you might face. More prep = less chance of a flub.
Those are the top 25 teacher interview questions and answers. Want one more question to rule them all? That’s coming in a second. Be flexible. “On the way to my first teaching interview, I was caught in a downpour and my car broke down. I still nailed every question. Then they asked to see my portfolio. I unzipped it and a big puddle of water splashed out onto the principal’s lap. I said, “I’m pretty sure this is a sign that this is not the place for me.” He laughed and offered me the job.
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Teacher Interview Tips
Bad dream:
You walk into the teaching interview. You sit. You’re sweating buckets.
They start asking questions. You umm and ahh.
Suddenly you realize you’re in your underwear.
Sound familiar?
Before we wrap up the top 25 teacher interview questions and answers, let’s take one minute to prepare.
The teacher interview tips below will jack your confidence up to the ceiling tiles.
Example Answer
I’ve always believed our future depends on regular people using science in day-to-day decisions. Science is at the core of a sense of wonder for our natural world. That wonder can drive students to improve their learning skills. It can take them places they never thought they’d go. Bring a lesson plan, transcripts, and Praxis scores. Be ready to answer a question about teaching philosophy. Be familiar with newest lingo, assessments instead of tests, and the use of
How do you evaluate your students?
Common teacher interview questions like this examine how you measure your performance.
As usual, avoid generic answers. Cite an accomplishment and how it helped your students.
I evaluate students with formal and informal methods, including quizzes and tests. I also grade in-class activities like reports, recitations, desk work, and group activities. One student, Terry, showed a strong grasp of concepts during in-class activities, but performed poorly during testing. Through working closely with him, I uncovered an undiagnosed vision problem. Terry got corrective lenses and his test scores rose to match his in-class comprehension.
Beware. Teaching interview questions like the above may look for whether you use assessments vs tests. Know what differentiation and universal design are. Be ready to discuss working with students with both identified and unidentified disabilities. Be able to explain how to flip a classroom. Explain that you’ll be very willing to communicate with and work with parents. Explain scope and sequence. Know who
