How did you handle a student causing trouble in the classroom?

"Challenges will present themselves when working with people of any age. It is my teaching style to work with troubled children individually and apply conflict resolution methods wherever necessary."

Share your approach to working with children who cause trouble in the classroom.

What provides you with the greatest joy in being a teacher?

"Being a teacher provides me with the greatest joy - and mostly, this is because it allows me to work with young students early in their educational career. I always remembered my experiences in kindergarten and the fun learnings we had with our teacher. I strive to create that same experience for each of the students in my classroom."

Reiterate to the interviewer what aspects of teaching provide you with the greatest joy. Tie this in to your love of learning and approach to teaching/learning. Now is your chance to radiate with passion about the career path you choose and why you continue to follow its path.

You have been hired as the newest member of our teaching team. In fewer than five minutes, how would you introduce yourself to a group of parents, students, and teachers from our school?

"That is great news! I will introduce myself with my name, a bit about my background, a smile and a handshake. I will express to the team that I am very glad to be its new member. I will set expectations of what to expect from me and my teaching style - from parents, to students, and other teacher peers. To end, I will share that I am excited to work with and learn more about everyone while making a lasting impression on our school year together."

The interviewer will be interested in how you approach introductory sessions and the information you will share with the people you will work with.

What is the most rewarding part of being a teacher?

"I have always been found molding young and inquisitive minds for the future and leaving a lasting positive impression for learning on students to be some of the most rewarding aspects of teaching."

Share your insights for why teaching is so rewarding as a profession.

How do you stay motivated?

"I am always striving to be better at as a teacher and am often motivated by learning from my students, as well as my peer teachers and parents."

Share what motivates and drives you to be better as a teacher every day. Take the opportunity to share practices you utilize in your personal life to improve as a professional (such as reading, networking, group events, etc.) The more passion you have for staying motivated and learning, the better!

Describe for me a lesson you taught that went very well. Why did the lesson work so well?

"Last year, I taught a class lesson on learning the alphabet and it went very well. We worked in small groups and created meaningful queue cards for each letter that resonated with the creative and logical learning style. Students had fun, learned in a way that they also made friends, and created a great tool to take home to their families."

Share a positive experience from one of your lesson plans and why it was so successful. Have fun with this question and brag about the work you did while gaining this positive experience.

What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?

"As a Type A personality that is strongly deadline driven, I have to manage my stress levels and take proactive measures to do so through personal care and exercise that helps center me for success each day."

Provide an honest answer around areas where you can improve.

How do you accommodate for different students learning styles?

"I utilize techniques for working in small groups to create even playing fields for all students. One student who struggles intellectually may have something to offer creatively and this is an important factor in creating teams for small group assignments in the classroom. We always provide a teaching approach that is holistic and integrated of visual, hands on, written, team and individual learning styles."

Share how you accommodate different learning styles in the classroom. Take this opportunity to highlight the learning styles you are experienced with and how you adapt your style for students with differing needs. If new to teaching, share the styles you learned in your schooling and how you plan to best apply them in the classroom.

How do you teach a classroom of children with differing intellectual abilities?

"My effectiveness as a teacher centers around my ability to adapt my teaching style to different learning methods, offering all students the opportunity to experience different styles. Being mindful of differing intellectual abilities, I take this into consideration when creating small group workings, etc."

Provide an answer to the interviewer that shows how you incorporate differing intellectual levels into your teaching style.

What makes you passionate about teaching?

"Teaching kindergarten is the first year of formal education and my passion stems from creating a foundation where there is a strong interest in learning for the rest of a student's educational career."

Share with the interviewer why you are passionate about teaching at the kindergarten level. Take the opportunity to brag about what life events or experiences led you to a career in teaching. Share a memorable story where applicable.

How do you get the respect out of your students?

"Like with anything, respect is often earned through relationship building and credibility. From the first day, I take pride in learning about my students and sharing the same about me. We bring fun learning experiences to our lesson plans and work that targets all different learning styles to create an environment where respect is valued."

Share your approach to earning respect as a teacher and the value you place on this through your teaching.

What steps would you take to handle a student who is a consistent behavioral problem in your classroom?

"I value conflict resolution and would take the approach to handle the issues with humility and the intent to resolve the issue, while bringing understanding to the student. When necessary, I will engage the student's parents to gauge their home life and enlist their support in coaching the young child."

Share your approach in steps to handling problem students in the classroom.

What qualities make an excellent teacher? Which do you possess?

"Excellent teachers possess strong skills in communication, instruction, writing, creativity and people. These are qualities I possess, along with a connected interpersonal style."

Provide an answer that gives light to your strengths that are in sync with being a kindergarten teacher.

Why did you choose to be a kindergarten teacher?

"I have always been passionate about a career that involves molding young and inquisitive minds for the future."

The interviewer will be interested in learning what lead you to choose a career in education at the kindergarten level. Now is your chance to explain your passion for working with children and helping students learn. It's okay if you have recently decided to become a kindergarten teacher, just explain to the interviewer the decisions that lead you there.

How well do you know this community?

"Having grown up in the local area, I am very familiar with the community and local networks that this school is located. It is my home and part of the reason I am so passionate about making a difference within it. I participate, with many other mothers, in a Junior's Women's Club in this area. Every week, I join together with families from this community to volunteer our time to feed the homeless nearby. I am part of an exercise club that meets every day and a book club that meets once a week. This community is comprised of great people that shares some of the same values of this educational institution."

Share the level in which you know the area. If you are from the area, share experiences you have had with the educational system or community programs in which you are involved. If you are just moving to the area, share what specific items led you to live there and how you acclimated through community events/programs.

Why do you want to work at this school?

"I want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young students in this local area. My long term career goal is to become a principal and I admire the work of the leadership in this organization. I grew up in this community and want to get involved in helping to shape the young children that make up our local area. Additionally, your school is reputable, highly credible and raved about by the members of the community. It would be an honor to be apart of what is happening here."

Share what separates you from other candidates and explains why you have chosen to seek out working at the specific school. Be sure to share any personal experiences you have with your own children in the school (or friend's children) and what about the Kindergarten position at the school interests you. If applicable, share your knowledge of the community and making a difference in it through this role.

What do you know about our school?

"You are the top regional school with accreditation in your coursework. Students specialize in math and sciences, you have an excellent early athletic program and have won best school by the state evaluation board three years in a row. Your mission is to create meaningful learning experiences and you value creativity and fun along the way. One of your teachers, Ms. Johnson runs a youth program in town and I admire her style when working with the children. She speaks so highly of her work at this school and it has really made me feel like it is the right place for me."

The interviewer will want to hear that you have done your research on its institution, mission or values, and team. Make sure you share any personal connections you have with the school (staff, etc.)

What would you consider a successful year as a kindergarten teacher?

"A successful year is when students leave having learned a lot, had a lot of fun and created relationships with one another through team/individual lesson plans. As I always look to grow and develop, success also means having become better as a teacher."

Provide an answer that shares how you measure success as a teacher.

What was your best moment as a student teacher?

"One of the best moments as a student teacher was hearing praise from parents after their children shared positive classroom experiences."

Provide a specific example that highlights a positive experience as a student teacher. Now is your opportunity to highlight on details of student teaching and meaningful take aways from working with young students in the classroom.

How would you react if a child accidentally urinated in the classroom?

"When working with children, these types of accidents happen. It is important to remain calm and diffuse the situation while placing care and importance in helping the child at hand. Some instances might include enlisting the help of a teacher aide to look over the class while tending to the child, calming the child and working through embarrassment and helping them clean up after the accident."

Provide the interviewer with an answer that shows you have thought through an incident. Here is a great moment to showcase how you work through challenges in the classroom. Take the chance to share your advanced problem-solving skills.

What makes you the best kindergarten teacher available?

"I take pride in my role as a teacher and shaping young minds is something which I have a vested interest. Outside of the classroom, I value building meaningful relationships with student families to transparently communicate the happenings in our classroom and the progress of their student."

You will want to articulate what separates you from the other candidates interviewing to be a kindergarten teacher. Now is your opportunity to shine and boast about any relevant credentials you have. Take the opportunity to speak confidently and brag about what you bring to the table.

What was the most important thing you learned as a student teacher?

"My experience as a student teacher has prepared me for being a kindergarten teacher. Specifically, working with integrative lesson plans and adapting teaching methods to meet the needs of various learning styles in a classroom."

The interviewer will be interested in take aways from your learning experience as s student teacher. Now is your opportunity to highlight on details of student teaching and meaningful take aways from working with young students in the classroom.

What are your goals as a kindergarten teacher?

"Molding young minds through effective and engaging lesson plans that prepare students for success in the rest of their K-5 journey."

The interviewer will be interested in goals you have set for your time as a kindergarten teacher. Now is your opportunity to show that you have thought through life as a teacher and planned specific goals for your role/work.

What were some classes you enjoyed taking while in college?

"As a teacher, I am passionate about learning at the fundamental level. I enjoyed coursework around communication, creativity, writing, and working with people. I apply my own educational learnings to my integrated approach to teaching."

You want to provide an answer that gives insight to the subjects you enjoyed while in school, preferably complimentary of that of a teacher.

What frustrates you the most about children?

"I do not think a person who is bothered or frustrated by children should seek out a career as a Kindergarten teacher. That said, working with young children, like any other profession, presents its own challenges. These are part of what makes my work very rewarding."

Provide the interviewer with an honest answer and place a positive spin where possible.

Kindergarten Teacher Interview Questions

Go Back

1. How did you handle a student causing trouble in the classroom?
2. What provides you with the greatest joy in being a teacher?
3. You have been hired as the newest member of our teaching team. In fewer than five minutes, how would you introduce yourself to a group of parents, students, and teachers from our school?
4. What is the most rewarding part of being a teacher?
5. How do you stay motivated?
6. Describe for me a lesson you taught that went very well. Why did the lesson work so well?
7. What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?
8. How do you accommodate for different students learning styles?
9. How do you teach a classroom of children with differing intellectual abilities?
10. What makes you passionate about teaching?
11. How do you get the respect out of your students?
12. What steps would you take to handle a student who is a consistent behavioral problem in your classroom?
13. What qualities make an excellent teacher? Which do you possess?
14. Why did you choose to be a kindergarten teacher?
15. How well do you know this community?
16. Why do you want to work at this school?
17. What do you know about our school?
18. What would you consider a successful year as a kindergarten teacher?
19. What was your best moment as a student teacher?
20. How would you react if a child accidentally urinated in the classroom?
21. What makes you the best kindergarten teacher available?
22. What was the most important thing you learned as a student teacher?
23. What are your goals as a kindergarten teacher?
24. What were some classes you enjoyed taking while in college?
25. What frustrates you the most about children?

Kindergarten Teacher Interview Questions

1. How did you handle a student causing trouble in the classroom?

2. What provides you with the greatest joy in being a teacher?

3. You have been hired as the newest member of our teaching team. In fewer than five minutes, how would you introduce yourself to a group of parents, students, and teachers from our school?

4. What is the most rewarding part of being a teacher?

5. How do you stay motivated?

6. Describe for me a lesson you taught that went very well. Why did the lesson work so well?

7. What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?

8. How do you accommodate for different students learning styles?

9. How do you teach a classroom of children with differing intellectual abilities?

10. What makes you passionate about teaching?

11. How do you get the respect out of your students?

12. What steps would you take to handle a student who is a consistent behavioral problem in your classroom?

13. What qualities make an excellent teacher? Which do you possess?

14. Why did you choose to be a kindergarten teacher?

15. How well do you know this community?

16. Why do you want to work at this school?

17. What do you know about our school?

18. What would you consider a successful year as a kindergarten teacher?

19. What was your best moment as a student teacher?

20. How would you react if a child accidentally urinated in the classroom?

21. What makes you the best kindergarten teacher available?

22. What was the most important thing you learned as a student teacher?

23. What are your goals as a kindergarten teacher?

24. What were some classes you enjoyed taking while in college?

25. What frustrates you the most about children?