These questions are examples of typical interview questions for your practice and
consideration. They are not presented as the actual questions you will asked in an
interview.
Philosophy of and Commitment to Education
- Tell me why you chose the field of Education....your particular subject or grade level.
- How do you know that you are an effective teacher?
- How long will you teach for our system?
- Please state your philosophy of education.
- Give reasons why you would prefer a school that places heavy emphasis on academic
achievement or a school that places heavy emphasis on personal development and counseling.
- Describe an ideal teaching position.
- Explain why or why not a prescribed curriculum should be followed by all teachers and
students.
- Describe a perfect relationship between teachers and their students.
- State the most important mission of the school.
Professional Qualifications
- State the current methods/texts of preparation in your field.
- Tell me about a time you have worked on a team and a member wasn't doing a share of the
work. How did you handle this situation?
- Describe your feelings about grades...report cards...non-graded classrooms.
- Give an example of a student who was different and tell how you met this individual's
needs.
- Describe how you handle discipline...cheating...disruptive behavior...motivation.
- Give an example or two of what you learned as a result of your student teaching
experience.
- In what ways has college prepared you for a teaching career?
- Describe experiences you have had working with young people outside of college
requirements.
- Give some suggestion you have found helpful in working with students who are
"disabled"... "exceptional".
- Describe the purpose for written lesson plans.
- Tell me your greatest strength in teaching...your greatest weakness.
- Select a specific teaching technique, then explain how a classroom is managed utilizing
this technique.
Interpersonal Relationships and Adaptability
- Explain how you can contribute to the students and the community in addition to teaching
your subject matter in the classroom.
- Describe specific problems you had in student teaching. How did you resolve each
problem?
- State your expectations of students in your class.
- There are extra responsibilities that go along with the job, how will you respond to
these additional demands?
- Describe what you would do to prevent disruptive behavior in the classroom.
- Sometimes a teacher has a paid or student aide and parent who volunteer services, how
would you utilize this help?
- Tell what you think about behavior modification. Give examples of when you might use
this approach with a student.
- On a scale of 1 to 10, rank yourself and explain the ranking for the following:
communicating with older people...younger people...rating with fellow workers.
- Describe how would you treat a student who refused to do the work you assigned.
- Describe how you would handle a student who continually "acted up" in class.
- Talk about how do you relate with minority students in the classroom.
- Describe the need for collaboration with other school professionals (i.e., school
psychologists, school social workers).
Personal Considerations
- Tell me about yourself.
- Explain why you decided to seek a career in teaching...why you signed up for an
interview with our system.
- Tell me which type of school you prefer and why: in an inner-city, suburban, small town,
or rural.
- Do you prefer to work with students with severe basic skills problems?
- State your goals for the next 5 years...for long-term.
- Describe why you feel qualified for this position.
- Explain how you would work with students below grade level, especially student with
lower socioeconomic status.
- State the grade level you would prefer to teach and why.
- Briefly describe how you plan to teach the subject matter for your desired grade level.
If you have any questions please send us a note: csc@radford.edu
This page was lasted updated on 6/18/99