What do you want your students to remember about your classroom?
A: I want students to remember my classroom as a
comfortable place – one that supports their needs, both physically and
psychologically, and one in which each student felt secure and respected. I want students to know that the classroom is
their place; that it’s not just the teacher’s place into which they have been
temporarily invited. I want them to know
that the classroom invites student engagement and celebrates the work of all
students. I want them to have a sense of
ownership in the classroom; a sense that this is a place that supports,
encourages, and respects each and every individual as a unique and contributing
member of the class. Their “investment
of self” in the classroom will pay off in incredible educational dividends and
lifelong emotional growth.
This is a great question that taps into your underlying philosophy of
education. That is to say, are you
child-centered or are you subject-centered?
Do you place students ahead of standards, curriculum, and rules or is it
the other way around? Keep your response
to this question focused on students (not yourself or the curriculum) and
you’ll always score points.
