- What do you enjoy most about teaching?
- Why did you choose to work with students with disabilities?
- What do you hope to contribute to the special education field?
- What’s the biggest challenge/reward in working with students who require special education?
- Why do you want to work in our school?
Here are the top 10 most asked special education teacher interview questions, along with suggestions on how to respond to each of them so you can nail the interview.
1. Our special education team uses Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for each student. How do you approach developing an IEP?
IEPs are central to any special needs learning environment. Being able to demonstrate an understanding and a familiarity with the IEP process is critical to demonstrating your skills as a special needs educator.
Answer:For the IEP to be of maximum benefit to the student, I believe it should be informed by multiple sources and take into a range of considerations including the student’s academic and non-academic developmental goals, the services available within the school to support the student in meeting these goals, regular parental involvement and feedback, an approach for regularly evaluating the student’s progress, and a mechanism for feeding back to the student in a meaningful and supportive way that he or she can understand.
2. What techniques and strategies do you use to tailor teaching to students with special needs? How do you determine which approaches to use?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to teaching, and especially not to special needs teaching. Interviewers asking this question want to understand how you will be responsive to different student needs and how you arrive at the decision of which approaches to use.
Answer:I have worked with students with a range of needs, include Attention Deficit Disorder, speech and language difficulties, as well as emotional and behavioral difficulties. I like to ensure that students are given short-term, measurable objectives that are relevant to their situation and which they understand. These shorter-term objectives must align with longer-term goals articulated in the IEP to ensure consistency in what is expected of the student. For example, for a student with behavioral difficulties who struggles with social skills, I would develop an objective for that student to interact appropriately during a regular classroom group activity, such as a reading circle.
3. We expect our teachers to bring their styles and approaches to curriculum development and classroom instruction. What is your most preferred teaching strategy, and why?
With this question, schools are looking to understand what approaches you find most effective and are most comfortable with. It’s an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your past experience and skills as an educator.
Answer:One of the most powerful teaching tools I have used is to sensory play. I see this as a key teaching strategy that can help students of all ages and abilities engage with different subject areas and benefits both academic and behavioral development. Sensory play is also a technique that I enjoy using because it allows me to be creative and flexible in my teaching approach.
4. Do you have any experience in integrated classroom settings? If so, how do you adapt lesson plans to the needs of special education students?
As a special needs teacher, you may not always be teaching in a separate classroom. Many schools will want to understand your experience, ability, and willingness to teach in integrated settings.
Answer:I currently teach in an integrated classroom. In this role, I developed a lesson plan for the entire class that was oriented on improving reading levels for all pupils. I then adapted this lesson plan for three special needs students in the classroom. This adaptation involved tailored one-on-one tutoring from classroom aids and instruction that was nested within a group reading activity. This ensured that all students were challenged appropriately to their level, but that the special needs students received the extra support in a way that allowed them to fully participate in the classroom setting.
5. Can you please describe your approach to including parents in the special education process?
Parents and guardians are key stakeholders in any child’s IEP. This question is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding that effective communication and involvement with parents are important for student success.
Answer:I see teaching as a process that needs to consider a student’s development both inside and outside of the classroom. While this is important for all students, this is even more critical for students with special needs. Parents play a key role in ensuring that an IEP is appropriate for the needs of their child and that this plan is supported at home. I strive to ensure that parents are part of writing the IEP and are clear about how progress is measured and that they receive regular reporting on their child’s progress. I ensure that a thorough record of interactions and agreements with parents is kept. I also work to foster relationships with parents and ensure that communication is functional and consistent to best serve the needs of the student.
6. Maintaining classroom discipline can be a challenge. How do you do maintain order with special needs students?
Maintaining an orderly learning environment can be difficult in any classroom setting. This question aims to understand how you handle everything from routine disruptions to more severe behavioral issues.
Answer:I find that setting clear expectations and ground rules for what is and what is not acceptable classroom behavior from the first day is critically important. I work to model acceptable behavior and explain when doing so to reinforce these expectations between myself and the students. I also strive to create a classroom environment where students expect acceptable behavior from one another and hold themselves to account in their interactions as peers. In setting initial ground rules, I like to focus on respect and get students to articulate in their own words or manner what it means to respect one another. Regardless of learning levels, I believe all students can say, draw, or describe how they would like to be treated by others. I also make sure to recognize and reinforce good behavior when it is demonstrated in the classroom.
Tracking student progress is a central part of an IEP. This is an opportunity to showcase your teaching approach as well as your ability to document and communicate students’ progress they learn.
Answer:I have used different assessment techniques over my career, depending on the needs of the individual student. No one assessment works best for all students. I prefer using multiple intelligence assessments useful for special needs learners as it accounts for a range of aptitudes and avoids making examination a stand-alone event, which can be intimidating to any student. It also allows students to demonstrate their understanding in ways that apply to them and are less rigid than traditional assessment methods. Finally, the regularity of assessment allows for continual feedback to the students and parents.
8. How do you maintain student motivation to persevere with assignments or skill areas they may find particularly difficult or challenging?
Maintaining motivation for special needs learners can be incredibly challenging. This question aims to understand how you work through this challenge and build a student’s skills in a feasible manner without deviating from their learning objectives or short-term goals.
Answer:First and foremost, I see positive reinforcement as a key to motivating special needs learners. Ensuring a student receives positive messaging when they have made an effort, even when this effort results in an incorrect answer, is central to ensuring the student does not become demotivated even if they are struggling with a task. I work with the student to show them that the process of getting to a correct answer is just as important as reaching it. Learning how to navigate their way to an answer also helps build student resilience over time and helps them to stay motivated on future tasks that they find difficult or frustrating. I find this is also useful for dealing with students with behavioral difficulties because discussing the process of achievement offers an opportunity to discuss and reward positive behavior in addition to academic progress.
9. What approaches do you take to helping special needs students increase their communication and social interaction?
All students will have different communication styles and needs. This question gauges how flexible you are to working with various needs and how adaptable your approach is when working with different students.
Answer:I try to encourage and model nonverbal communication as much as possible. I also see parents as important players in reinforcing nonverbal communication techniques with students at home. I have found that nonverbal communication can be an excellent strategy for children with speech and language difficulties and can often resolve anxiety and facilitate social interaction for students who may not otherwise be able to communicate as effectively as their peers. As a teacher, I try to reinforce and explain these nonverbal cues with verbal explanations.
10. What has been the most challenging situation you have faced as a special education teacher? Please describe what you did in this situation.
With this question, the interviewer is trying to understand not only what experience you’ve had, but how you reflect and assess your past teaching. It aims to understand your awareness of your approach as a teacher.
Answer:The most difficult situation I have faced thus far is working with a student who had multiple special needs. These needs meant that he was not only difficult to teach but was also highly disruptive in a classroom setting. This was an integrated classroom, and I needed to ensure that the student was not only receiving instruction but also engaged with the class. I approached this situation by working to get him involved in tasks he could accomplish that would contribute to the classroom environment. As the student gained positive reinforcement from completing these tasks, it made him feel more integrated into the classroom and helped to deal with most of the behavioral difficulties. For example, I found that getting him to assist with something physical, such as pinning objects on a wall map during a group geography exercise, made him feel part of the class and also got him to work alongside other students. This tactic was also complimented by him receiving one-on-one tutoring from a classroom assistant for other assignments.
SOAR Life Skills-Job Interview Questions for adults with special needs/disabilities
6 Special Education Teacher Interview Questions and Answers
How did you manage special education services for students who were a part of inclusive classrooms?
If you’re expecting the applicant to work in an all-inclusive classroom at your school, then you want them to have a good understanding of what it takes. These instructors help students adjust to the new classroom environment and should be familiar with what to do if a serious crisis occurs.
What to look for in an answer:
- Understanding that special education students in a new environment continue to need assistance
- Critical thinking skills and the ability to plan ahead
- Flexible availability and love for the work
What grade levels have you taught as a special education teacher?
A seasoned professional understands that some public schools have limited funding and cannot offer multiple special education teachers for each grade level. Your preferred candidate can progress with their students and provide each one with the necessary skills to complete each grade level successfully.
What to look for in an answer:
- Experience teaching multiple grade levels
- Commitment to students throughout their education
- Understanding of the importance of consistency for special-needs students
In your work as a special education teacher, what conditions or disabilities did your students possess?
A special education teacher is well-versed in the signs and symptoms of children’s conditions and disabilities. They should know the indicators of serious challenges or risks to the children or others in the classroom. Pay attention to the level of compassion the applicant exhibits when answering the question.
What to look for in an answer:
- Advanced knowledge of mental disorders and disabilities
- Examples of helping students through a crisis
- Familiarity with proper school protocol when students exhibit severe symptoms
Can you tell me about a time when you needed to change your approach to help a student learn? How did you maximize their learning experience?
Special education teachers work with students with a range of conditions, including dyslexia, attention deficit disorder (ADD), autism or Down syndrome. Because of this, they must know how to change their teaching style to fit each student. This question helps interviewers determine a candidate’s previous experience in a special education role and how their experiences qualify them to accommodate changing academic needs or behaviors for their students.
The candidate’s answer should emphasize:
- Compassion for students
- Innovative mindset
- Adaptability
One possible answer to this question is as follows:
As a special education teacher, why do you feel that smaller classes give the students a better chance of achieving their academic goals?
The coursework required for a special education teacher’s degree program includes psychology and related sciences. Professors teach the special ed teachers techniques for helping children with varying mental conditions that are often debilitating. Your applicant should be able to advocate for the needs of their students to your administrators and ensure that all pupils receive a high-quality education.
What to look for in an answer:
- Skills needed to help disabled children with the challenges of their conditions
- Experience organizing individual lesson plans
- Confidence in oneself
As a special education teacher, why do you feel that IEP meetings with your student’s parents are so critical?
Special education teachers should understand why continued assessments for each student are paramount to their education and that having the child’s parents involved in the process is critical. Pay attention to the steps the applicant discusses in their answer. To gauge their abilities further, you could ask follow-up questions about the fine details of their techniques.
What to look for in an answer:
- Experience conducting Individualized Education Program meetings
- Ability to form creative plans for improving each child’s education
- Experience managing challenging circumstances and achieving goals
Describe a time you worked with a challenging fellow teacher’s aide and how you handled the situation.
Teamwork is important to special education aides, so interviewers want to know how you handle difficulties with your team. Try to choose a situation that had a positive outcome. Consider using the STAR interview method to explain how you acted effectively in this situation.
Example: “As special education aides, were responsible for putting away materials. In a previous position, my coworker would leave at the end of every school day without helping me clean. After a few weeks of this, I reached out to my coworker and reminded them of our end-of-day cleaning duties. They said they were too busy in the evenings to help me out. When talking with them didnt work, I asked the lead teacher what I should do, and we three sat down together to create a cleaning schedule that worked for my coworker and me.“
In-depth special education aide interview questions
These questions help interviewers see your understanding of the position and how well you would fit in their environment:
What are you passionate about in special education?
Employers ask this question to find out what you find exciting and fulfilling about the job. Answer this by explaining how you use this passion to enrich the classroom for students.
Example: “One of my greatest passions in special education is using creative activities like painting to help students learn and explore. I love the freedom and originality of painting, and sharing those feelings with my students is very fulfilling. In my last job as a special education aide, I would bring in finger paints and rolls of paper for the students to use a few times a week. It was wonderful to see their personalities through their art, and it made them happy while allowing them to practice motor skills and learn about colors.“
Read more: Interview Question: “What Are You Passionate About?”
Managing a full classroom of students with multiple IEPs takes agility and organization. Candidates will have different methods for organizing schedules and tasks, but the best ones will be able to demonstrate a number of effective strategies. If they have an aptitude and an appreciation for diligent scheduling, they won’t get easily flustered.
Unlike most teachers, special education teachers cannot simply hand out standardized tests to gauge students’ progress. But at the same time, many states have regulations for recording and reporting evaluations. Your new hire must understand the regulations and be able to individually tailor assessments to effectively evaluate the strengths of every student.
Tell me about a scenario where you had to deal with a difficult parent. How did you address the situation?
Tell me about a lesson plan you designed that didn’t work out. Why didn’t it work and how did you course correct the situation?
Special education is a difficult field and each classroom scenario is different. Some lesson plans that work for one group of students are not effective with others. Ideal special education candidates will not only recognize failure and be willing to talk openly about what they learned from it, but are able to come up with alternative solutions, all while keeping a cool head.
Special education teacher responsibilities may include:
Special Education Teacher Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
Regardless of your overall experience, having the proper skills and patience to teach students with special needs is part of what makes you so valuable.
After all, many of these students have complex physical, emotional, mental, and learning disabilities that wouldn’t be addressed in a typical classroom. With that in mind, the qualifications that an effective special ed teacher needs can be numerous, and in many ways, are incomparable to that of other teachers.
Employers know this, and will interview you with a critical eye. Remember, they want teachers that understand students who function and learn in non-typical ways.
Therefore, answering their questions in a professional and prepared manner, as well as showing that you have knowledge of special education teaching methods, will give you the best chance of moving forward in the hiring process.
This can be a bit overwhelming, considering all of the daily strategies you likely employ to help your kids. Maybe the thought of giving concise and straightforward answers in your interview seems overwhelming and difficult.
However, the more confident and prepared you are, the better you’ll be able to explain your strengths, strategies and methods.
Fortunately, this article will address common and important questions you may be asked in your interview, as well as provide sample answers you can use as a guide.
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FAQ
What are the 10 most common interview questions for students?
- Could you tell me about yourself and describe your background in brief? …
- How did you hear about this position? …
- What type of work environment do you prefer? …
- How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations? …
- Do you prefer working independently or on a team?
What are good questions to ask about special education and learning disabilities?
- What needs to be included in my child’s IEP? …
- Are there any areas where my child is struggling? …
- How can I best communicate with my child about their learning disability? …
- How often should we meet? …
- What can I do at home to help my child learn?
What are 7 common interview questions and answers?
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why are you interested in working for this company?
- How did you hear about the job?
- What do you know about the job?
- Why do you want the job?
- Tell me about your education.
- Why have you chosen this particular field?
- In a job, what interests you most/least?
