How do you deal with stress?

     Q:  How do you deal with stress?
     A:   I went into teaching knowing full well that it would be a stressful profession.  During my teacher education program I have developed several strategies to deal with the day-to-day stressors that inevitably come with the job.  I belong to a health club which I visit four times a week.  On weekends I take long “power walks” through the woods near where I live.  I’m learning about yoga and some of the benefits it offers to help individuals achieve a sense of harmony.  I belong to a book discussion group, take watercolor classes at the local art association, and I have an active circle of friends.  I try to maintain a wide diversity of physical and mental options that help me achieve balance in my life.

            Don’t make the mistake of saying that you are not stressed by teaching – the interviewer will know, right away, that you are less than honest.  He or she has had numerous years of experience as a former classroom teacher and will know that stress is an inevitable part of the job.  Be up front and let the interviewer know that stress + teaching go hand in hand.  But, also share the strategies and techniques that help you maintain a balance in your life.

How have you handled criticism of your lessons or teaching performance?

     Q:   How have you handled criticism of your lessons or teaching performance?
     A:   My college supervisor sometimes mentioned that I had time management issues – that is, I found it difficult to get everything done that I had planned.  Some parts of a lesson would go too long and others didn’t have enough time to develop.  I learned that this is a common problem with pre-service teachers.  So, I took the opportunity to talk with some of the more experienced teachers in the school to see what kinds of tips or strategies they had that would help me master my time a little better.  One of the best ideas I got was to list my lesson objectives on the board for students to see and then check them off as the lesson develops.  That gave me - and the students - visual proof on how the lesson was progressing.

            This question often provides the interviewer with insight into your accountability and professional character.  How do you handle criticism – positively (as a learning opportunity) or negatively (the reviewer didn’t know what he/she was talking about).  It would be most valuable to take this opportunity to demonstrate (with specific examples) how you were able to use that criticism to become a better teacher.