You’ve passed your content test, enrolled in a Teacher Certification Program and landed a job interview for that teaching job you have always wanted. But, how do you ensure that you are the one they will choose?
According to Bobby Unser...Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.
So, let’s talk about how to prepare for your Texas teacher interview. I bet you won’t see some of these in any other teacher interview preparation articles!
The most meaningful interview questions you will be asked are easily answered if you have a deep understanding of these three theories and how they relate to your potential students:
I have listed this theory first because it has to be addressed first. The psychologist Abraham Maslow developed a theory that suggests that humans are motivated to satisfy five basic needs...physiological need, security needs, belonging needs, esteem needs and self-actualization.
These needs are arranged in a hierarchy. Maslow believed that we seek first to satisfy the lowest level of needs and then seek to satisfy each higher level of need until we have satisfied all five needs.
In short, if your student's physiological and emotional needs are not met, they cannot focus on learning. So, look it up and learn it well!
Bloom's Taxonomy
Created in 1956 under the leadership of educational psychologist Dr Benjamin Bloom, this theory promotes higher forms of thinking in education, such as analyzing and evaluating concepts, processes, procedures, and principles, rather than just remembering facts (rote learning).
In other words, higher levels of thinking can often be achieved by changing the verbs you use in your assignment. Google it!
Differentiated Instruction
This philosophy for effective teaching involves providing different students with different avenues to learning (often in the same classroom). According to Carol Ann Tomlinson, teachers can differentiate in four ways: 1) through content, 2) process, 3) product, and 4) learning environment based on the individual learner.
In other words, you will have to vary your teaching style to accommodate different learning styles or to give students repeated and varied experiences through which to learn. Don't get caught up in what's right, wrong, new or old. It all makes sense.
If you don't have a clue about classroom management, read The Classroom Management Book. We send it to everyone that is accepted into our program. There is a reason we do that!
Learn these theories well and stop trying to memorize the right answer. There are many ways to ask a question and you need to answer from a knowledge base, not from memorization or you'll surely get stumped.
There is a right way and a wrong way to answer interview questions, particularly when it comes to teaching jobs. According to The Balance article, Teacher Interview Questions, Answers, and Tips, there are some things you must do:
There are other great tips in their article. Check it out at the link above!
In our previous article, we gave five great tips to land your first job:
It is definitely worth reviewing!
With the above tips, you are sure to wow the Principal and/ or the panel. So, relax, smile and go get that job!