Preschool Teacher

Your answer should reflect the culture of the community in which you are interviewing. Find out the home languages spoken, the economic status of most families, and the kinds of family involvement encouraged by the school or program. Knowing these details, you can shape a response that demonstrates respect for the families. Would it make more sense to use email or to send letters home? Would it be beneficial to create a class website? Is there a teacher portal available? Be sure to mention that you chose a method because you are aware of the community demographics!

I do not think of what is considered bad behavior as adversity. It is alright for children to question and be stubborn at times. I take it in stride and make sure that I respond with positivity.

Any job in this world requires either a skill set or an academic degree or both. Ensure that you answer this question in a factual and concise manner. The answers that you provide may be referenced and checked; present accordingly.

As far back as I can remember, I have enjoyed being around children. I am an ambitious individual and have the flare of ensuring children’s personal, social and cognitive development. These factors are behind my interest in working as a preschool teacher.

While my experience isn’t too vast in this area, I have handled a couple of students with physical and mental disabilities over the course of my career – and have done well in adjusting them!

This is a loaded question! Of all your qualifications, state the ones that put you over the top. Although you need to maintain a professional demeanor throughout the interview, this question calls for your personal views on early childhood education and how you see yourself contributing to the program. When preparing for the interview, consider the following: Why did you choose the field of early childhood education? How dedicated are you to the young children you teach? How has the field affected your thinking, previous jobs, and life experiences? This is the last message you will share with interviewers, so be sure to give an answer that represents you as a unique individual.

Being a preschool teacher requires a true love for the field and working with kids. The interviewer is ensuring these are traits you possess.

"Growing up I was the oldest of six brothers and sisters. Helping my mother to care for them gave me the skills to be a nurturer. I worked as a babysitter and in various child care centers before I became a teacher. I always found myself drawn to similar jobs. I developed a passion for working with kids and found I was quite skilled at it."

Preschool education is not just about teaching letters and numbers but also about instilling values and characteristics such as a love of learning, curiosity, discipline, teamwork, independence, communication and socialization skills.

Most likely as a preschool teacher you will be working with students from ages three to five. The interviewer wants to make sure your curriculum will be relevant to the entire range of age groups.

"The most important thing I keep in mind when working with children of different age groups is to keep each child engaged and mentally stimulated. Everyone must have equal attention because often if a child feels neglected they will start to act out. All students physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs should be met and further developed. I make sure to keep a diverse curriculum that is specified and beneficial to each age. I develop cross-age activities as well."

Be sure the strategies you describe are developmentally appropriate and effective. It is best to share ones that you have implemented successfully, so you can use examples from your own experiences. Administrators seem to appreciate discussing guidance that reinforces positive behaviors and involves children in deciding how to work together in the classroom.

I am patient and flexible – two attributes that are core ingredients that should be present in a preschool teacher. Since I am a trained preschool teacher, I am well-aware of creating and using age-appropriate teaching materials, evaluating student performances and providing them with a safe and nurturing environment to thrive in. Additionally, I am proficient in handling in-class problems before they become crises.

Education is not just teaching the written word, but it is also molding an entire generation into forward thinking, practical individuals. Also, values are the most important aspects that one can give to the young generation.

Therefore, you should be careful and answer the question with an answer that would send across the point that you focus on the discipline and values that a preschool teacher can impart to children. This is the time to arouse in the children interest in learning and socializing appropriately, while introducing them to rules and regulations.

It all depends on the nature of disability and the student’s own ability to cope. If the student does not get traumatized, I believe there is no harm in enrolling his or her into a regular school program.

Parental involvement can be negative as well as positive. It is important to be able to manage this.

Appropriate methods include speaking privately to the parent away from the children, listening closely to the parent's concerns, asking the right questions and ensuring you understand the situation before you explain or discuss possible solutions, showing genuine concern and empathy and remaining calm and professional.

Telling your interviewer the type of projects you would like to plan as well as your reason for choosing a particular project will more than likely impress her. For example, "I think it's important that preschoolers learn to work together, so I would plan a cooperative art project such as a farm mural. Each child could select a part of the farm to draw on the class mural such as a barn, a tractor or animals."

The formative years of every child are extremely important. This is the time they are provided with a foundation on which they work for the next decade. Also, the first five years are important because children have the capacity to absorb a lot at this time and we as instructors need to ensure that they make full use of this.

This preschool teacher interview question is to evaluate how well you manage your classroom. Effective organization is the cornerstone to this. Describe how you have created a welcoming, structured and supportive learning environment.