Teacher Interview Questions and Answers. What You Need to Know!!

Teacher interview questions and answers fall into two categories.

1. Knowledge and information based questions that are asked to learn more about your teaching strategies in areas such as classroom management, instructional strategies, student assessment, preparation and planning, and so on.

2. Personality oriented questions that are designed to understand your teaching philosophies, career goals, etc.

Remember that you are not expected to know everything, but you should know how to get the information. Be honest. Don't guess or provide excuses.

The following teacher interview questions and answers on this page fall into the first category. My page on personality oriented questions will help you with answers that fall into the second category of questions. .

A. Instructional Strategies

Typical Questions:

1. How is teaching related to learning?

2. What instructional strategies would you use in a Science, Math, Social Studies(or other type of) lesson?

3. How would you adapt your instruction if you had gifted or other special needs students in your class?

Response Structure:

Speak about:

1. Your understanding of learning styles - visual, auditory, kinesthetic. Demonstrate your awareness of the need for a variety of educational strategies to ensure that all students benefit.

2. The need for strategies that allow for on-going assessment - small and large group instruction, presentations, cooperative learning, organization of classroom environment, how you make accommodations for special needs students,etc.

3. Empowering students to become life-long learners/achievers - teaching them how to learn, take notes, prepare for tests, manage time wisely, etc,.

B. Classroom Management

Typical Questions:

1. How would you deal with a disruptive student in your class?

2. How would you deal with students who are constantly off-task?

3. How can you ensure that students in your class behave appropriately?

Response Structure:

Speak about:

1. Preparation to set up a positive classroom environment to minimize concerns: clear expectations, routines,, procedures, developed with student input, clear level of respect for each other, understanding consequences and applying them consistently.

2. Assessing each situation accurately - possible reasons for misbehaviour, mitigating circumstances, etc.

3. Behaviour modification strategies - short and long term.

4. Positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviour.

C. Special Education

Typical Questions:

1. How would you plan for a special needs student?

2. How would you work with the parents of an exceptional student?

3. How might you integrate an exceptional student in your classroom?

4. How do you determine what modifications and accommodations to make for particular students?

Response Structure:

Speak about:

1. The rights of an exceptional child to a specialized program: IPRC, IEP, Annual Review

2. Learning styles, exceptionalities, accommodations, modifications.

3. The teacher's role in dealing with special needs students - knowledge and understanding of curriculum expectations, instructional and assessment strategies, communication with parents, etc.

4. Your role as part of a team - special education teacher, support staff, other teachers, parents, etc.

D. Planning and Preparation

Typical Questions:

1. Explain how you would plan a program for your grade or subject.

2. Describe a lesson you taught that you consider one of your best.

3. Describe the format you use to develop a lesson.

Response Structure:

Speak about:

1. About your knowledge of the curriculum - overall and specific expectations.

2. Long-range plans, unit plans, daily plans - refer to resources available - school library, other teachers on the team, internet, consultants, resource teachers, etc.

3. Classroom preparation: welcoming environment, bulletin boards, student expectations, routines, materials.

4. Communication with parents - curriculum nights, parent-teacher interviews, student agendas, regular informal communication.

E. Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting

Typical Questions:

1. What is your system of evaluating student work?

2. How do you communicate with parents about student progress?

3. What kind of assessment strategies do you use in your classroom?

Response Structure:

Speak about:

1. The purpose of assessment - to improve learning, to ensure that curriculum expectations are met, and to communicate progress to students and parents.

2. The Ministry direction in assessment - 4 levels of achievement, diagnostic, formative, summative assessments, use of rubrics.

3. Using a variety of assessment strategies: paper-pencil tasks, peer and group assessments, self assessment, displays, reports, presentations, etc.

4. Communication with students and parents: clear directions and expectations, on-going assessment, open door policy, etc.

Please don't be overwhelmed by these teacher interview questions and answers. You can find suggestions to help you out on many of the pages on my website.

If you have a question related to teacher interview questions and answers, or any other topic for that matter, please go to my

Contact Me page and I'll try to answer any questions you may have.

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