What were the most rewarding aspects of student teaching?

     Q:  What were the most rewarding aspects of student teaching?

     A:   One of my professors always used to say, “The best teachers are those who have as much to learn as they do to teach.”  I discovered that to be a good teacher one always has to be open to new strategies, new techniques, and new possibilities.  Student teaching made clear to me that just because I have a lot of “book learning” doesn’t mean that I know everything there is to know about teaching.  Not only did I have to keep up on the latest information about biology education, I also had to be open to suggestions and comments from other teachers, administrators, and yes, even students.  Keeping an open mind was critical to my success as a student teacher as I’m sure it will be to my success as a biology teacher.  I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a finite body of knowledge – good teachers are always searching for new information and are always willing to consider new possibilities.

            Administrators want to hire people who are not only consummate teachers, but are well-rounded as well.  This question provides you with a unique opportunity to demonstrate your personal philosophy as well as your professional philosophy.  Your response should show evidence of both your teaching competence as well as your long-term potential.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK:      “I particularly dislike candidates who ramble on and on about themselves or communicate they are ‘in love with themselves.’”

How will you integrate technology into your classroom?

Q:  How will you integrate technology into your classroom?

     A:   The number one use of technology comes in the form of research.  The Internet, for example, provides students with a wealth of current information on any topic or any subject.  I want my students to experience the incredible array of data available in any subject area.  A second project that can help integrate technology, while truly getting the students excited about school, is website creation.  I plan to publish a website with my class about information students have researched or personally created.  This might include literary efforts, results of scientific investigations, critiques of books read, or problem-solving projects.  I also want to explore the possibility of online assessment for my students.  If students have the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned through the use of technology, then I have more time available to teach.  It’s an exciting new concept and one I’m eager to explore.  Although these are exciting ideas I have to remember what one of my professors said, “The program should not be built around technology; rather technology should be built into the program.”

             Most of the administrators I talked with want to know how versed teacher candidates are in technological issues.  Your response to this question should demonstrate your awareness of and comfortableness with technology as a powerful teaching tool.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK:      “A candidate shared with me a story about how he had his neighbor evicted - due to his uncanny tech. skills.  He created a documentary showing how his neighbor was violating specific ordinances and then called the police.”

Since this will be your first teaching job, how do you know you’ll like the career path?

Q:  Since this will be your first teaching job, how do you know you’ll like the career path?

A:   I’ve spent a lot of time in classrooms – during my field experiences requirements, student teaching experience, and volunteer work at the elementary school in my hometown.  I talked to several teachers here and throughout the district and asked them what they enjoy most about the Wide Open Spaces School District and they all said they especially like the camaraderie and support system in place for teachers.  I get a real sense that there is a spirit of cooperation and dedication here that is important in the education of children, but equally so in maintaining high morale and a vision for the future.  I believe I can thrive in this type of atmosphere and am confident that my philosophy and that of the school will be a long-term match.

            This can be a tricky question, but if you have done your homework about the school or district it can be answered with confidence and assurance.  Let the interviewer know that you have gone above and beyond in your teacher preparation program – that you’ve seen teaching from many different angles.  In addition, allow the interviewer an opportunity to see how your philosophy and that of the school are mutually compatible – that you are just not excited about teaching, but that you are especially excited about teaching in this particular school.  Allow your enthusiasm and energy to come to the fore; demonstrate your passion through tone of voice, body language, and animation.  Since this will undoubtedly be one of the final questions you’ll be asked, make sure you put a large exclamation point on your response. 

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK:      “The best prepared candidates are those who did their homework on the school and can ask meaningful questions.”

What Do You Know About This School?

     Q:  What do you know about this school?

     A:   According to the school’s web page you have achieved AYP in each of the past five years.  Your reading scores are up and your math scores are making some significant improvements.  That says to me that your teachers are sincerely committed to integrating some instructional changes to the reading and math curricula.  Along with the two extra days of in-service training recently approved by the school board this underscores a sincere commitment to the needs of students.  I’ve talked with several teachers and to a person they are all impressed, and all supportive of, the new schedule.  This schedule makes additional time available for literacy instruction – something which is showing up in the improvement of test scores.  Some of the parents have even remarked on a new sense of energy in the school – certainly something to be proud of.

            This is a frequent question in any interview.  Simply put, the interviewer wants to know if you’ve done your homework.  What do you know about the school other than how many teachers work there and the color of the hallways?  Make sure you take the time to pour over school board minutes, the school’s web site, and any printed newsletters or brochures.  Talk with people in the school – teachers, maintenance staff, bus drivers, and learn as much as you can about the climate and philosophy.  Chat with parents and community members in the supermarket, hardware store, or gas station.  Learn anything you can and plan to share that knowledge in the interview.

üEXTRA CREDIT:      You can always get extra points if you research the school’s recent test scores and frame some sort of positive comment around those scores.  For example, “I see that you’ve made an 8% improvement in your reading scores over last year.  You must be very proud.”  Or, “I note that your recent math scores have held firm over the last three years.  I’d like to contribute my enthusiasm and expertise in teaching math in helping to improve those results.”

Interview Themes

8.  Flexibility

            Can you ‘roll with the punches?”  Can you “go with the flow?”  Can you “change directions in midstream?”  Can you “bend in the wind?”  All these questions have to do with perhaps the most significant attribute of any good teacher – flexibility.  Interviewers want to know that they will get the most “bang for the buck” – that you can handle a wide variety of classroom situations, a wide range of teaching challenges, and a wide array of changes, modifications, or alterations – all at a moment’s notice.  Your willingness and eagerness to present yourself as someone who can adapt without getting flustered or change without getting upset is a key attribute – an attribute that can often “nail” the interview.

            Are you willing to teach at another grade (elementary)?  Are you willing to teach another subject area (secondary)?  How would you handle a fire drill in the middle of your favorite lesson?  What if we brought in a brand new reading series next week, what would you do?  Are you comfortable with change?  Would you be willing to work in an after-school program?  Administrators are always interested in individuals they can use in a variety of situations.  The willingness to be flexible and the desire to quickly adjust to change are both positive characteristics valued in any school.