Talk about time management.

     Q:  Talk about time management.

     A:   For me, good time management is all about transitions.  I define transitions as those times during the day when I move from one activity to the next.  But, in order for those transitions to be effective they need to be taught.  For example, I would let students know when (in two minutes, for example) an activity will end (“We’ll have a whole class review of triangles in two minutes’).  I’d let students know what they can expect in any subsequent or follow-up activity (“After lunch, we’re going to continue looking at the structure of onion cells.”).  And, I’d be sure my lessons had clear beginnings and endings.  I’d review the lesson objectives before the lesson begins and again at the conclusion of the lesson.  Actively involving students in time management procedures helps ensure a fully functioning school day and fully functioning curriculum.

            Show that you understand the importance of time management.  Provide the interviewer with specific examples of how you will put time management principles to work in your own classroom.