Being a primary school teacher can be exhausting and a fun experience at the same time. But kudos to you for wanting and choosing to become one.
Primary school is where a child’s foundation is built, and the teacher plays a vital role in shaping the child’s future. As applying for a teaching position in Primary School requires giving an interview to the school administration in most cases, one might feel nervous.
Teacher interview questions can be tricky, but sometimes it is only really about expressing your true self.
While preparing for primary teacher interview questions and answers doesn’t guarantee full marks in the interview, as it is upto the administration what kind of questions they ask (which can be unique), going through some sample primary teacher interview questions would boost confidence and provide a head-start in the interview.
So here are the top 30 teacher interview questions and answers that might get asked on our big day; while some will be asked for sure, the others might come in handy in a room full of administrators.
Basic Primary Teacher Interview Questions and Answers:
1. What motivates you to pursue a career as a teacher?
The most popular interview question for teachers is, “Why did you become a teacher?”
Administrators want to know you’re driven to persevere in the face of adversity. And yes, they’ve heard every generic response in the book.
It won’t work to say, “Because I want to assist others.” Find something concrete that demonstrates how driven you are.
Sample answer: – I like instructing students. I’ve worked in sales and marketing in the past. I discovered that teaching other salesmen and marketers was something I loved doing. I went on hiatus after having my second kid and began my teacher training. I’m more fulfilled now than I was in sales four years ago.
2. What is your approach to teaching?
This type of teacher interview question asks, “Are you a good fit for our school?” It’s a teacher’s version of “tell me about yourself.”
But—
If you’re interviewing for a position as an elementary teacher at an unstructured school, don’t say, “I believe in organized learning.”
Before the interview, spend some time learning about the school’s philosophy.
Sample Answer: – I believe in tailoring lessons to each student’s interests. My children in one kindergarten class, for example, struggled with punctuation. I saw that one of the students, Riya, became enthralled by apostrophes.
With a large book on punctuation, I fueled her enthusiasm. Her excitement was contagious, and the entire class was soon asking lively questions. I aim to provide organized courses in an informal manner wherever feasible.
3. Tell us about your background and yourself.
Sample Answer: – Teachers, for example, did not recognize that I struggled with reading as a child. This experience showed me that any student is capable of success but that they may require additional attention and a tailored strategy. As a teacher, I am able to help students overcome their learning difficulties with zeal.
4. In the classroom, how do you deal with students’ behavioral issues?
Sample Answer: – When I prepare my courses, for example, my objective is to use compelling interaction and participation to capture each learner’s attention in a way that leaves no space for distraction.
If a student’s conduct disrupts the class, I use a combination of classroom rules, prizes, and firmness to encourage them to do their best so that we may all have a good time.
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5. How much information on your pupils do you want to have in order to be the most useful to them?
This is another one of those teacher interview questions that is contingent on the school’s ideology. One administrator may believe that knowing every detail is critical.
“A doctor does not need to know the name of her patient’s favorite ice cream parlor,” another may argue. Be truthful, but try to establish common ground, like in the following teacher interview questions:
I need to know about a student’s learning methods, interests, and difficulties. Roy was a tough student who was often disrupting the class. On and off, I joined him on the playground. He was being bullied after school by his big brother’s classmates; it came out.
I asked Roy’s parents about it, and they had no knowledge. Tim became my star student, and my entire class became calmer and easier to teach as a consequence.
6. What makes you so special that we should recruit you?
Example: I am an exceptional candidate for your school’s big TshiVenda population since I have five years of experience teaching elementary school, a solid foundation in TshiVenda and Xitsonga, and invaluable TshiVenda Language proficiency. It’s also important that I enjoy what I do.
7. Why are you interested in working for our school district?
Administrators want to know whether you’re serious about this position. So, look for aspects of the school that you enjoy.
Speak with any of the teachers that work there. Examine the school’s website, mission statement, and “About Us” page for further information. Finally, consider your place in the world.
Example answer: – It has a long and illustrious history of achievement and variety. My former district was more focused on pleasing rather than educating students.
On the other hand, your school’s concept requires learners of all ages to take the initiative when they are challenged. I also admire the school’s embracing of technology, particularly computer coding, which is an effective tool for generating immersive learning experiences.
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Intermediate Written Test Questions for Primary Teachers
8. Do you have any experience planning lessons?
Yes, in my considerable experience, I have used Annual Teaching Plans (ATPs) to cover as much learning content as feasible.
I also strive to arrange my courses in such a manner that each learner’s knowledge of the topic is objectively tested.
9. What characteristics do students find appealing in teachers?
For example, children want affirmation and are drawn to teachers who recognize their unique learning strengths and problems.
They connect with educators who are patient in addressing these issues one at a time.
10. What characteristics characterize an effective teacher?
Sample answer:-
Patience, for example, is the most crucial personality attribute for good instructors. Children may be a handful at times, and patience is essential for achieving learning goals.
A good teacher is disciplined and stern but yet retains an open mind and stretches when needed. For the sake of each individual student, we learn to approach them differently.
Some other questions, which generally are to be prepared on our own, are listed below. Try to keep your answers concise, unique, and fluent.
11. What are your teaching strengths?
Sample Answer:-
I am really great at implementing teaching aids and engaging students to learn concepts through activities. I also assess them through these methods, which creates a great learning atmosphere in my classroom.
12. What is your greatest flaw as a teacher?
Sample Answer:-
As a teacher, I get pretty upset when students are inattentive in class or do not finish their tasks even after telling them to do so repeatedly. It demotivates me to try harder in the classroom, but I’m surely working on it.
13. How do you deal with your student’s parents?
Sample: – Mostly, I’m pretty subtle with PTAs, highlighting both the good and improvable aspects of a child’s profile.
I try to support the parents as much as I can to give the children a learning experience; at the same time, I understand and accommodate the different needs of students and parents however I can.
14. Why did you quit your previous teaching (or other) position?
This answer can contain personal reasons or even professional reasons. If you’ve relocated to a city or area, then it’s a pretty clear answer. If you left your previous position because you didn’t like a certain rule or person or work in the place, be sure to tell it out in the interview.
15. What is your academic background?
In this answer, mention all your academic qualifications, any internships, or certifications.
16. Where do you want to be in five years from now, in terms of career?
Sample answer: – I see myself being a faculty member of this school and helping students if I get in. I would also like to do an additional certificate course on class management online. I’m thinking of pursuing my Ph.D. simultaneously in the next five and the coming years after that.
17. How do you manage the classroom?
In this question, try to explain your methods of keeping the class engaged and attentive. You can tell how you ask everyone to listen to the lecture politely or do their classwork, or even scold them if needed subtly (but prefer not to).
18. What is your favorite topic?
Talk about any topic you like in the subject you teach. It can be a particular concept, story, or even teaching method of a particular lesson.
You can also add something that correlates to your subject. For example, you may like to associate math and music in your classes if you’re a math teacher, as both have strict fundamentals.
19. What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
Sample answer: – I enjoy giving activities to my students. This helps them learn the concepts even better and also brings out the creativity in them.
It also is a great way to assess kids, as they’re having fun while they’re doing it, and hence put more effort into doing it diligently rather than just reading or writing a concept.
20. Describe your worst class day.
Sample answer: – In my previous job, I was teaching a group of students who’d constantly try to bail on work as much as possible. One day, when I was teaching a concept, a child asked me a question. When I answered him, he said he didn’t understand.
I had to repeatedly answer the same question because he could complain about my teaching being incompetent, and the period went like that.
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Advance Primary Teacher Interview Questions and Answers
21. What can you do to benefit our school and students?
This kind of teacher interview question doesn’t have to make you blink.
Remember to first study about the school’s requirements.
The following example is for a school with a large number of disruptive kids:
I’ve spoken with numerous of your instructors about their classroom management difficulties. My classroom management abilities are well-honed. From the University of Manchester’s online programme, I’ve earned 17 credits in class management.
At my last school, I received praise for completely involving a class with over 30% disruptive kids. Transition cues, Nonverbal cues, timeouts, and a variety of methods were employed. I’m confident that I’ll be just as effective here.
22. What criteria do you use to assess your students?
This and other common teacher interview questions probe how you assess your own performance.
Avoid giving general responses, as is customary.
Mention a triumph and how it benefited your pupils.
I assess pupils using both formal and informal techniques, such as quizzes and exams. Reports, recitations, desk work, and group activities are also graded in class.
Sample: Barry, one of the students, had a great understanding of ideas during in-class exercises but struggled during the assessment. I discovered an undetected eyesight issue while working closely with him. Barry received corrective lenses, and his exam results improved to match his comprehension in class.
Questions like the one above may ask if you utilize evaluations or tests when teaching.
Extra tip: Understand the concepts of distinction and universal design. Prepare to talk about dealing with students who have both diagnosed and undiagnosed impairments. Being able to describe how to flip a classroom is a valuable skill.
Explain that you will be eager to interact and collaborate with parents. Explain the scope and order of events.
23. Why are science, math, French, and other subjects taught in schools?
Why is your topic so important to you?
You’ll fail typical primary school teacher interview questions like this if you respond, “So they can get decent careers.”
Consider why you are passionate about the topic.
Sample answer: I’ve always thought that our future is dependent on ordinary people using science in their daily decisions.
Science is at the heart of awe for our natural world. That awe can motivate pupils to increase their learning abilities. It can take them places they never expected to go.
24. What steps would you take to make your classroom ready for the first day of school?
This and related teacher interview questions assess your level of readiness.
The first steps make an impact. Your first-step strategy reveals a lot about your teaching abilities.
An Example of an Answer:
My classroom should be warm and caring. I also make it clear what the ground rules are. A welcoming sign and designated desks let students feel at ease from the start. Posters and other visual aids that are engaging assist in creating a sense of enthusiasm.
A lengthy list of rules and punishments at the front of the room, in addition to being entertaining, helps the class get off to a good start.
25. Why should we employ you as a teacher here?
This is the teacher interview version of the age-old question, “Why should we hire you?”
The sample response below is for a school that wishes to include technology in the curriculum.
Your new technological project is widely known to me. At my previous school, we were given identical assignments. Because of my excellent technical experience, I was able to include online quizzes easily. Students adored them, and they reduced administrative processes by 25%.
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26. What frustrates you the most about teaching?
Teaching interview questions like this one are designed to determine whether you are easily discouraged.
As a result, your response must demonstrate your inner power.
Sample Answer: I’m really upset with brilliant students who are overconfident and don’t put in the effort. Nothing is sadder or more frequent than a squandered promise. At my previous job, I worked with numerous youngsters who weren’t trying.
I used a research-based method to include student suggestions into the lesson plan. The incorporation of their ideas resulted in full involvement. In just two months, test results increased by 15%.
27. Does it help children learn if they are disciplined?
Yes, since it is necessary for keeping order in the classroom so that students can hear teachings and be encouraged to do well and learn. However, I feel that educating a pupil about self-discipline and respectable behavior is an important aspect of my profession.
To keep my pupils accountable, I offer positive comments on their behavior in accordance with the set of rules in my classroom.
28. Do you think technology can play a significant role in the classroom and in teaching?
I am a firm believer in the use of technology in classroom instruction, collaboration, and other elements of its function in education.
To provide a more enhanced learning experience, one approach to use technology is to employ interactive multimedia courses. It also simplifies homework and projects, and remote instruction is now easier than ever.
29. How do you deal with obnoxious students?
For example, if a learner is disruptive, something generally prompts that behavior. Before responding or addressing it, I attempt to identify the cause of the problem so that we can work together to remedy it without distracting their students by bringing attention to it.
30. What techniques will you provide to difficult students?
Example answer: – I did some research on the school and discovered that you had difficulties with class management. At my last school, I implemented a positive reinforcement system that rewarded good conduct rather than punished badly.
Class management improved by more than 30%, and learner engagement increased by 15%, leading to a 15% increase in performance. I’m also a licensed special needs educator and can offer advice on how to aid students with learning impairments.
An interview for a primary teacher is a long process, and at the end, there’s a question asked, which is generally the most important question of the day.
“Do you have any queries for me?”
This question is important for these reasons:
- It asks whether you’re knowledgeable enough to ask a probing inquiry regarding the job.
- It allows you to express your fervor.
- It can demonstrate that you are a strong applicant.
- It allows you to elicit useful information about the position.
- It detracts from their teaching interview questions. That takes you out of the firing line and eases the tension around.
So, prepare to scratch your brain a little.
Which of the reverse-teaching interview questions listed below best fits the job opening?
Which ones portray you as the most qualified candidate?
Questions to Ask a Primary Teacher in an Interview
- What are my objectives during the first year?
- What is the average size of a classroom?
- What is the culture of the school like?
- Do you have an active PTA?
- How are the other teachers?
- What is the relationship between the school and the parents like?
- What do the other instructors think is the best thing about this school?
- How do you deal with bullying?
Any of those questions to ask in a teaching interview will demonstrate that you are familiar with lesson plans.
Life when you’re a primary school teacher and the responsibilities that come with it
It’s essential to know how your job will be when you’re applying for it as it would give you some clarity on what to expect.
Responsibilities of Primary School Teacher
- Planning, preparing, and delivering courses that meet the demands of the class’s whole ability range.
- Arranging the classroom and learning tools, as well as designing exhibits to provide a pleasant learning environment.
- Teaching all aspects of the basic curriculum being in charge of the development of a class of primary-age students.
- Energizing students with a lively, creative presentation.
- preserving discipline
- preparing and marking work to support good student development satisfying criteria for assessment and documentation of pupils’ growth.
- Giving feedback to parents and caregivers on a pupil’s progress at parent-teacher conferences and other meetings.
- Organizing activities and resources within a certain curricular area and assisting colleagues in the delivery of this specialty area.
- Collaborating with others to plan and organize tasks.
- Keeping up with changes and innovations in the curriculum structure.
- Organizing and participating in school events, trips, and activities that may occur on weekends or in the evening.
- Communicating with colleagues and working flexibly, especially in smaller schools.
- Collaborating with parents and school governors (in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales) or parent councils (in Scotland) to increase parental engagement in the school and the creation of school resources.
- If necessary, consult with other experts such as educational welfare officers and educational psychologists.
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Skills required for a Primary School Teacher
To become a primary school teacher, you will need the following qualifications:
- exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
- excellent organizational and time-management abilities
- vigor, zeal, endurance, patience, devotion, resilience, and self-discipline
- the initiative, leadership, and managerial talents, as well as teamwork abilities
- good judgment and an analytical mind, inventiveness, creativity, and a sense of humor
- a clean criminal record and a good health record
Additional skills in areas such as:
- Art, drama, modern languages, music, and sports are favorable.
- Degree qualifications differ from country to country.
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Some Tips to ace the interview
Here is an awful dream:
You enter the teaching interview. You take a seat. You’re perspiring profusely.
They begin to ask inquiries. You mumble, and ahh.
You suddenly realize you’re still in your underpants.
Does this sound familiar?
Let’s take a minute to prepare before we go over the top 30 teacher interview questions and answers.
The following teacher interview suggestions can boost your confidence in the ceiling tiles.
Interview Techniques for Primary Teachers
- Understand the jargon. What are the AYP objectives? Wiggins and Marzano, who are they? What exactly are rubrics? Brush up on your terminology and be prepared to explain it.
- Prepare for frequent teacher interview questions. Discover the requirements of the school. Then, come up with accomplishments that demonstrate how you can assist.
- Bring a portfolio with you. It is not their responsibility to read it. It’s proof of your teaching interview responses. Bring resources that demonstrate accomplishments, such as lesson plans, worksheets, and photos.
- Dress professionally—even more so than you would for work. This conveys the sense that you are taking the interview seriously.
- Listen. The more you ask and listen, the less teacher interview questions you’ll have to answer. Furthermore, interest = intriguing.
- Make direct eye contact with the principal and all of the other interviewers.
Here’s a recap of the article and the points discussed:
Prepare: This resource contains 30 primary teacher interview questions and answers. Concentrate your efforts on the top ten.
Do your research: Learn about the school’s requirements, both online and through speaking with the teachers. Prepare replies that demonstrate you have solutions.
Pose inquiries: Choose a couple of the general teacher interview questions listed above. They will demonstrate that you are present and accounted for.
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