General Questions for Teaching Positions

This set of questions could be part of an interview for a teaching position. You should also check out general questions and behavioral questions.

• If a student said she thought you were the worst teacher she ever had, what would you say?
• If I were your principal and we were setting goals for next year, what would they be?
• Some people say you should demand respect.  Do you agree or disagree?
• Tell me about yourself.
• How would you rank these in importance and why?  Planning, discipline, methods, evaluation.
• If a student came to you and said, "None of the other students like me," what would you tell him/her?
• Are you an empathetic person?  Give an example.
• How can you tell that a person is a good listener?
• Are you an objective person?  Give an example.
• What do you want to do with your life?
• How do you feel when a student does not meet a deadline?
• It is the first day of class, you are writing something on the board and a paper wad hits you in the back--what would you do?  Later the same day, the class decides to all drop their pencils--what do you do?
• What was the most frustrating thing that happened to you as a student teacher?
• What was the best thing?
• Do you believe you should build rapport with students?  If yes, how?
• How do you give your students recognition?  Do you think a student can have too much recognition?
• How do you encourage students to learn?  Can a student be forced to learn?
• How do you handle a child who seems gifted, but is a discipline problem?
• How do you feel about computers in the classroom?
• How do you present a new word to a class?
• What are your strengths?  What are your weaknesses?
• What is the role of the principal?  Does a conflict exist between your perception of a principal's role and his/her role as your evaluator?
• Describe your student teaching experience.
• How do you establish authority/discipline?  What do you do when a discipline problem arises?
• What subjects have you taught?
• Are you patient?  Give an example.
• Do you ever feel angry with your students?
• What will you be doing in five years?
• What is your educational philosophy?
• What do you like most/dislike most about teaching?
• How do you feel about noise in the classroom?  How do you handle noise in the classroom?
• Why do you want to be a teacher?