interview prep.

[hmartin5]

Hello. I am preparing for interviews in a new school district. I have been out of the country for two years and I am afraid things will come up in my interview that I have either forgotten about or missed. Could anyone give me some helpful hints about what might be asked during the interview. I am really nervous. Thanks

[Chef Dave]

Even if you weren't teaching - out of the country experience is a very useful thing to put on a resume. If you speak a foregn language, so much the better.

These are my suggestions. I spent 8 consecutive years teaching overseas.

1) Update your resume. Emphasize your foreign experience.

2) Make sure you have recent letters of recommendation. If you haven't been teaching, try and get letters of recommendation from your last employer. If nothing else, this letter could be used as a character reference.

3) Make sure you know how to get official transcripts from your university. Some school districts will accept photocopies of transcripts but many like official transcripts that are directly mailed to them.

4) If you have not already done so, update your portfolio. If you don't have a portfolio, consider putting one together. The portfolio is basically a snapshot of you as a teacher. It can include any or all of the following: resume, letters of reference, copies of evaluations, sample lesson plans, letters from parents, pictures of your classroom to demonstrate classroom environment/climate, pictures of student projects, pictures of bulletin boards, copies of newsletters to parents, pictures of your overseas experience etc.

Organize your portfolio using tabs.

Be prepared to properly use your portfolio during an interview. Many teachers make the mistake of thinking of their portfolio as a grown up "show and tell" project. Not true. INCORPORATE the portfolio into your interview by using it to illustrate answers to various questions.

What would I see if I walked into your classroom? Use
your portfolio to show desk arrangements, bulletin board displays, learning centers, creative lesson plans etc.

In terms of what questions may be asked, the emphasis on state testing has become increasingly important.

Think about how you will prepare your students to pass the state test.

When I was an elementary teacher, I had IEPs for every student in my room. I had printed objectives for every instructional strand that was taught (and tested). I basically maintained a competency checklist folder for each student in the class. As I taught these objectives, I checked them off. I indicated mastery with a green check and failure with a red zero.

Students with red zeros were retaught and re-evaluated via small group instruction. The date of instruction and re-evaluation was included. Successful reteaching was written in green within the circle.

A teacher's ability to handle discipline problems continues to be important.

What are your expectations regarding student behavior? Do you have class rules? Do you consistently enforce these rules? What are your consequences?

Best wishes to you with your upcoming interview!

Let us know how everything turned out.

[MrsR]

Something that came up on all of my interviews was my view of inclusion and what I would do to help incorporate it into the classrooms I would be working in.
Also, in your portfolio, if possible, use lots and lots of pictures! Not very many people wanted to read all of the written things in my portfolio but they LOVED the pictures I had of the activities I did with my students and the classrooms I worked in.