What Skills Are Most Critical?

Here's a terrific interview question (actually two questions in one).  Not only are you being assessed on the skills necessary to be an effective teacher; so too, are you being asked how well you embody those skills.  This is definitely a question you want to practice many times in advance of any interview.

     What skills do you think are most critical to this position?

     A:   For me, three basic skills stand out:  1) The ability to effectively manage student behavior; to create a classroom environments that both supports students and helps them succeed in an environment with high expectations and individual attention.  2) Time management – being able to effectively manage all the duties and responsibilities of classroom teaching in a productive and efficient way.  And, 3) Creating a “Community of Learners” – a philosophy that celebrates learning and success for every child; a classroom environment in which everyone works together for a common goal and a common purpose.  I know these are tough challenges for any beginning teacher but I believe I have the persistence and experience to make them happen.

Again, as in so many of the questions you might be asked about yourself, be very specific and offer detailed information about your goals and how you will make them happen.  Don’t be wishy-washy, but don’t be over-confident either.  Tap into some of your student teaching experiences and offer the interviewer some concrete examples of how you took advantage of your skills.