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

How to Answer
Answer Example

Give a concrete example using your direct experience by starting with a specific student that you remember helping. If you don't have one, use an example where you could teach someone something--it could be a friend or family member.
Provide relevant context, so the interviewer understands the situation. Describe what you were teaching and why students were struggling. Demonstrate your ability to overcome obstacles by moving into a quick overview of what you did that didn't work and progress into what did work. Sum up the resulting positive outcome and connect it with the broader idea of the strategy you use to teach a student.

"I remember a time when I was teaching students how to use divide. One student was having trouble dividing numbers. I tried different ways of explaining it to her. I figured she needed an explanation catered to her preferred learning style. I realized it would be best to have her try to divide something herself to experience the process visually. I asked her to draw a circle and decorate it like the top of a cake. Then I had her divide the cake into different parts. I realized that she learns best by practicing, visualizing, and interacting with tangible objects. Now, any time there's a student who has difficulty learning something new, I quickly try to figure out what their preferred learning style is."

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How to Answer: If students were having difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Elementary Teacher job interview.

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

How to Answer

Give a concrete example using your direct experience by starting with a specific student that you remember helping. If you don't have one, use an example where you could teach someone something--it could be a friend or family member.
Provide relevant context, so the interviewer understands the situation. Describe what you were teaching and why students were struggling. Demonstrate your ability to overcome obstacles by moving into a quick overview of what you did that didn't work and progress into what did work. Sum up the resulting positive outcome and connect it with the broader idea of the strategy you use to teach a student.

Written by Audra Kresinske on August 22nd, 2021

Answer Example

"I remember a time when I was teaching students how to use divide. One student was having trouble dividing numbers. I tried different ways of explaining it to her. I figured she needed an explanation catered to her preferred learning style. I realized it would be best to have her try to divide something herself to experience the process visually. I asked her to draw a circle and decorate it like the top of a cake. Then I had her divide the cake into different parts. I realized that she learns best by practicing, visualizing, and interacting with tangible objects. Now, any time there's a student who has difficulty learning something new, I quickly try to figure out what their preferred learning style is."

Written by Audra Kresinske on August 22nd, 2021

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