United StatesInterview Questions & Supporting Documents
| Anticipated Questions (Probes) | Supporting Documents |
| What is your educational philosophy? |
Article summaries or critiques Anecdotal records Essays Letters to parents Philosophy statement |
| What does an ideal classroom look like? |
Bulletin board ideas Essays Floor plans Lesson plans Letters to parents Management and organization strategies Observation reports Pictures and photographs Portfolios (student) Projects (performance-based) Seating arrangement diagrams Teacher-made materials Theme studies Unit plans |
| How would you assess children's work? |
Assessments (formal and informal) Case studies Interviews with students, teachers, parents Lesson plans Portfolios (student) Problem-solving logs Projects (performance-based) |
| How do you work with parents and other members of the community? | Community resources documents Field trip plans Interviews with students, teachers, parents Letters to parents Problem-solving logs Professional organizations and committees list Projects Volunteer experience descriptions |
| How would you
handle discipline
problems? How would you manage your classroom? What kinds of managment strategies do you like to use? |
Classroom management philosophy Cooperative learning strategies Field trip plans Floor plans Journals Letters to parents Management and organization strategies Observation reports Pictures and photographs Problem-solving logs References Rules and procedures descriptions Schedules Seating arrangement diagrams Student contracts |
| Explain what you know about using technology in the classroom. | Computer programs Media competencies Projects References |
| What kinds of
instructional strategies
do you use? When? How well do they work? |
Curriculum plans Evaluations Lesson plans Observation reports Peer critiques Pictures and photographs Projects References Teacher-made materials Theme studies Unit plans |
| How do you meet individual needs in the classroom? |
Individualized plans Interviews with students, teachers, parents Journals Lesson plans Portfolios (student) Problem-solving logs References Student contracts |
| What textbooks and other resources have you used in the classroom?
How do they compare to others? |
Curriculum plans Projects Theme studies Unit plans |
| What are your
strengths? What is your greatest weakness? |
Awards/certificates Evaluations Goal statements Letters to parents Media competencies Peer critiques Problem-solving logs Professional organizations and committees list References Self-assessment instruments Transcripts Volunteer experience descriptions Work experience descriptions |
| How well can you work with other people? | Community resources documents Evaluations Field trip plans Letters to parents Peer critiques Professional organizations and committees list Projects References Volunteer experience descriptions Work experience descriptions |
| Tell me about yourself. | Awards/certificates Essays Goal statements Letters to parents Peer critiques Self-assessment instruments Subscriptions Transcripts |
|
Do you plan to go
back to college for an
advanced degree? What do you do to keep yourself up-to-date? |
Meetings and workshops log Professional development plan Professional organizations and committees list Professional readings list Self-assessment instruments Subscriptions |
| What work gives you the most pride? | A great variety of documents is possible; this depends on your value judgment. |
| What did your supervisors say about your work? |
Awards/certificates Evaluations References Volunteer experience descriptions Work experience descriptions |
| What do people appreciate about you? | Evaluations Peer critiques References Volunteer experience descriptions Work experience descriptions |
| What are your goals? | Goal statements Philosophy statement Professional development plans Self-assessment instruments |
| What is your favorite
subject or topic to
teach? Why? |
Article summaries or critiques Awards/certificates Computer programs Essays Journals Meetings and workshops log Philosophy statement Pictures and photographs Professional readings list Research papers Self-assessment instruments Subscriptions Transcripts |
| What is your greatest career or academic achievement? | Awards/certificates Evaluations Journals Peer critiques Pictures and photographs References |
More on Finding a Teaching Job
Excerpted from How to Develop a Professional Portfolio, by Campbell, Cignetti, Melenyzer, Nettles, Wyman
