Elementary Teacher Mock Interview

Practice 50 Elementary Teacher interview questions covering classroom management, differentiation, and parent communication.

Question 12 of 50

How do you overcome a difficult problem?

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Audra Kresinske

Audra Kresinske is an educator with over 7 years experience teaching English and employment readiness skills.

The interviewer is looking for an honest example from your experience. You should choose a problem you faced either in your academic or professional career. Provide relevant context so the interviewer can follow your story and be sure to illustrate the specific steps you took to overcome the problem and what you learned through the process.

Audra Kresinske

Audra Kresinske is an educator with over 7 years experience teaching English and employment readiness skills.

"Two years ago, I had a student who would become violent and lash out at other students and staff. It happened randomly, and I would be nervous about it almost every day. I had to be very patient and calm with him because I knew that he would lash out even more if he saw my stress or any sign of aggression. I advocated for myself and told the principal that I often felt fearful. A support teacher was provided to help the student manage his emotions. The situation also improved when I got to know the student on a deeper level. I was able to read him better and knew when he needed a break. I was proud of myself for overcoming fears, truly getting to know the student, and advocating for myself to ensure a positive learning environment."

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50Elementary Teacher Interview Questions & Answers

Accomplishment

1.What was your most rewarding experience during student teaching?

Diversity

2.What experience have you had with students from culturally diverse backgrounds?

Job Satisfaction

3.Why did you decide to become a teacher?

Experience

4.Can you tell me about a time when you had to step into the role of a caregiver, and what you learned from that experience?

Discovery

5.Are you a positive and energetic person?

Communication

6.If a student said she thought you were the worst teacher she ever had, what would you say?

Leadership

7.If I were your principal and we were setting goals for next year, what would they be?

Teamwork

8.Are you a team player?

Compatibility

9.What is your philosophy towards work?

Discovery

10.What is your greatest strength?

Stress

11.How do you handle stressful situations?

Problem Solving

12.How do you overcome a difficult problem?

Scenario Based

13.If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?

Creative Thinking

14.How will you instruct students with varying abilities?

Problem Solving

15.If students were having difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

Trust

16.How do you feel when a student fails?

Adaptability

17.What techniques do you use to keep students actively involved during a lesson?

Discovery

18.Why are you the best person for this job?

Career Goals

19.What challenges are you looking for in a position?

Adaptability

20.It seems like there is never enough time to cover the curriculum or to get children to master content and skills. Would you comment on that?

Trust

21.What are your weaknesses?

Career Goals

22.Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?

Creative Thinking

23.Are you constantly searching for things you can show, tell, or demonstrate to students? Tell us about a recent discovery or something new you found.

Job Satisfaction

24.What attracted you to this school?

Accomplishment

25.What are you most proud of?

Discovery

26.What do you like to do in your spare time?

Discovery

27.Was there a person in your life who really made a difference?

Experience

28.Give me examples of ideas you've had and implemented?

Education

29.What's the last book you read?

Ask The Interviewer

30.Do you have any questions for me?

Problem Solving

31.How do you deal with an unmotivated student?

Scenario Based

32.Tell me about some specific motivational strategies you use to get students excited about a project.

Problem Solving

33.What would you do if 50% of a class did poorly on a test?

Adaptability

34.How would you apply technology to enhance daily instruction and increase student learning?

Adaptability

35.What activities has technologies replaced in your lessons, if any?

Competency

36.Are you comfortable with the use of technology in the classroom?

Experience

37.What are your computer skills? What computer software have you used?

Behavioral

38.How would you rank these in importance and why? Planning, discipline, methods, evaluation.

Problem Solving

39.If a student came to you and said, 'None of the other students like me,' what would you tell them?

Scenario Based

40.Are you an empathetic person? Give an example.

Communication

41.How can you tell that a person is a good listener?

Leadership

42.What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?

Leadership

43.Do you prefer to do long term or short term plans? How do you plan for instruction?

Diligence

44.How closely do you follow your plans?

Leadership

45.What do you feel are the most important factors in classroom management?

Compatibility

46.Do you believe you should build rapport with students? If yes, how?

Adaptability

47.How do you encourage students to learn? Can a student be forced to learn?

Adaptability

48.How do you feel about computers in the classroom?

Problem Solving

49.What would you tell a parent who complained about their child not having enough homework?

Trust

Elementary Teacher Mock Interview

How do you overcome a difficult problem?

50Elementary Teacher Interview Questions & Answers

1.What was your most rewarding experience during student teaching?

2.What experience have you had with students from culturally diverse backgrounds?

3.Why did you decide to become a teacher?

4.Can you tell me about a time when you had to step into the role of a caregiver, and what you learned from that experience?

5.Are you a positive and energetic person?

6.If a student said she thought you were the worst teacher she ever had, what would you say?

7.If I were your principal and we were setting goals for next year, what would they be?

8.Are you a team player?

9.What is your philosophy towards work?

10.What is your greatest strength?

11.How do you handle stressful situations?

12.How do you overcome a difficult problem?

13.If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?

14.How will you instruct students with varying abilities?

15.If students were having difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

16.How do you feel when a student fails?

17.What techniques do you use to keep students actively involved during a lesson?

18.Why are you the best person for this job?

19.What challenges are you looking for in a position?

20.It seems like there is never enough time to cover the curriculum or to get children to master content and skills. Would you comment on that?

21.What are your weaknesses?

22.Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?

23.Are you constantly searching for things you can show, tell, or demonstrate to students? Tell us about a recent discovery or something new you found.

24.What attracted you to this school?

25.What are you most proud of?

26.What do you like to do in your spare time?

27.Was there a person in your life who really made a difference?

28.Give me examples of ideas you've had and implemented?

29.What's the last book you read?

30.Do you have any questions for me?

31.How do you deal with an unmotivated student?

32.Tell me about some specific motivational strategies you use to get students excited about a project.

33.What would you do if 50% of a class did poorly on a test?

34.How would you apply technology to enhance daily instruction and increase student learning?

35.What activities has technologies replaced in your lessons, if any?

36.Are you comfortable with the use of technology in the classroom?

37.What are your computer skills? What computer software have you used?

38.How would you rank these in importance and why? Planning, discipline, methods, evaluation.

39.If a student came to you and said, 'None of the other students like me,' what would you tell them?

40.Are you an empathetic person? Give an example.

41.How can you tell that a person is a good listener?

42.What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?

43.Do you prefer to do long term or short term plans? How do you plan for instruction?

44.How closely do you follow your plans?

45.What do you feel are the most important factors in classroom management?

46.Do you believe you should build rapport with students? If yes, how?

47.How do you encourage students to learn? Can a student be forced to learn?

48.How do you feel about computers in the classroom?

49.What would you tell a parent who complained about their child not having enough homework?

50.What would you do if your Principal made a decision you did not like?