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A New Guide: Interview Questions for Teachers of Every Grade & Subject
Eric Hougan
Secondary – Science
1. What is your philosophy on teaching science to elementary kids? Teenagers? Economically disadvantaged kids?
2. Why do you want to be a science teacher?
3. What Science organizations are you involved with (as a member or other)?
4. Tell me about a current science event that you have read about this week? How would you use this in the classroom?
5. In which field of science do you feel particularly strong? Explain.
6. In which field of science do you feel the least knowledgeable/competent in? Explain.
7. If you were hired to teach starting this September, how would you go about setting up your science program?
8. What science curriculum do you have experience with? What do you like or dislike about them?
9. What role do you believe that the adopted Science book should serve in your classroom?
10 Where do you find resources other than the Science book in order to keep your students current on the constantly evolving knowledge of science?
11. What do you understand the inquiry method to be in science?
12. Why would or would not you use lab groups or lab partners in your class? How would your establish lab groups/lab partners (what criteria would you use)?
13. How would you evaluate lab groups/partners to be to know that each student is learning and participating?
14. How would you integrate technology into your science teaching? How would you integrate math? Reading? Writing? Social Studies?
15. How will you make your subject(s) relevant to the students?
16. How important is hands-on lab and inquiry lessons?
jacknapier
26 days ago
30 comments
interesting how math and social studies both required just 4 questions...
pourakbar300
about 1 month ago
2 comments
This is one of rhe best sites in the world, and it is vital to get information via this site.
sarareid
about 1 month ago
228 comments
Nice article.. This book is very useful to crack any of interviews..
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lynnelmida
6 months ago
2 comments
THIS IS A VERY ARTICLE. THIS CAN HELP PLENTY OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS ESPECIALLY IN THIER INTERVIEWS
divabr
7 months ago
2 comments
I was so excited to find this information until as usual every subject specific information is here but Fine Arts. My school district just cut the entire vocal program. This just shows that once again the arts are left out of the picture.
1981_08
8 months ago
2 comments
Thank you for the guide questions.
elizabethfis
8 months ago
4 comments
Any advice for coping with stress of the panel interview ? I know that staff want people to be comfortable. I find the lengthy questions with 8-12 panel a little intimidating.
AllyS
9 months ago
2 comments
As a new teacher entering into public education for the first time, I thought the suggestions were wonderful. I used the information to organize myself and to reflect on my ideals of teaching. I agree, the amount of information was a bit overwhelming and it is true I was not asked about most of the ideas mentioned. However, I felt confident and ready to answer any questions the interview panel had for me.
debo
9 months ago
132 comments
These were insightful questions that made me think about my own qualities as a teacher. They also inspired me to consider my own method of processing information: thinking about the way that we think is called "meta-cognition".
debo
9 months ago
132 comments
I do not know if it is Eric Hougan (the author of all these articles) or the website data in-put person, or the editor who is responsible for checking the grammar on published articles, but someone is failing in their job. It always irritates me to see poor grammar in published pieces, but on an educator's website it is unacceptable. Typos happen. I'm not concerned with perfection, rather it bothers me that valuable advice is being delivered in such a slipshod manner. Am I the only one who notices all these errors?
With re: content > "A".
With re: grammar > "C".
dhastings
9 months ago
210 comments
A very complete list.
LMcGarv
9 months ago
54 comments
This is a great list to review before you interview. If you can answer all of these, then you must know what you're talking about!
Rae
9 months ago
2 comments
Wow! If applicants had to answer all these questions they would look for another line of work. In my experience of helping select teachers for hire, as a teacher on an interview team, as long as the teacher has the proper credentials and no sketchy background, selection is much more subjective. We avoided candidates that came across over pre-pared and wanted us to see their personal discipline plans, etc. What we wanted was a decent, pleasant person who was comfortable (as possible) talking about themselves and teaching. Also, we looked for people that seemed to be cooperative and open to participating with the established system and staff. If possible we tried to evaluate if a person was truly and deeply interested in being a positive mentor because they felt an abiding responsibility to do what they could to help students. A big red flag would be up for people who tried to be tough, strict, and/or sarcastic. We loved our students and we wanted a teacher who would love them, too. We also wanted someone with a strong work ethic that was willing and eager to work as hard as we did. We wanted someone whose personality and communication style would be engaging to the students. True, it is sometimes difficult to find out everything one wants to know, but if the person is friendly, kind and professional, they are a good bet; plus the teacher team can teach them the rest.
emilycragg
9 months ago
2 comments
This is the most horrifying BS I have ever seen in my six decades of learning and teaching. There is nothing about Civility, Decency, Honor, Ethics, Ideals, Law, Justice, Fairness our any Outcomes at all. It's all process, process, process. Absolutely bankrupt. No wonder our kids are lost at sea. If this is what you thinking Teaching is, it's no wonder more and more parents are home-schooling. MECragg, B.S., M.A., Conflict Analyst