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As someone who
has sat on
countless
teacher
interview
committees I can
honestly say
that I am still
surprised at how
many potential
teachers get
the "classroom
management"
question wrong.
The truth
is...how you
answer the
"classroom
management"
question can be
the difference
between getting
that perfect
teaching job or
not.
Without a doubt,
at some point in
your teacher
interview you
will be asked
some type of
classroom
management
question. Such
as, "How do you
handle classroom
management
issues?"
This is an
extremely
important
question.
However, like I
said, this is
where many
potential
teachers fail
the interview.
Here are some
tips...
First of all,
make sure you
clearly express
that classroom
management is
not about
rewards and
punishments, but
rather it is
about keeping
your students
actively
involved in all
of your
lessons...that
you are a proactive
teacher as
opposed to a
reactive
teacher.
Make sure to
explain to your
potential
employer that
the best
"classroom
management plan"
is a strong
"instructional
plan". In other
words, you do
not rely on
elaborate
systems of
rewards and
punishments to
address
classroom
management
issues, but
instead you find
it much more
effective to be
proactive.
Next, at this
point in your
answer, it is
very effective
to explain the
major reasons
"why" classroom
management
issues arise and
"how" you plan
on addressing
those classroom
management
issues.
*****sidebar*****
If you’re
looking for more
information on
how and why
classroom
management
issues arise
make sure to
sign up for my
free classroom
management
e-course here:
www.Classroom-Management-Tips.com
*****sidebar*****
Just to give you
an idea, I might
say something
like this...
"Classroom
management
issues arise for
2 main reasons:
1) boredom; 2)
confusion.
Addressing both
of these issues
starts from the
second the
students enter
the classroom.
By keeping
students
actively
involved
throughout the
lesson the
students will
not get bored."
Of course, it is
imperative that
you specifically
explain how
you are going to
do this. You
must show
your
interviewers
that you are not
all theory, but
that you
actually apply
what you say to
the classroom.
Therefore, your
answer must be
as specific as
possible with
actual examples
from actual
lessons.
For example, I
would explain
how I use
teaching
strategies such
as the
"all-write" and
the "pair &
share" to
increase class
participation
from 10% to
100%.
And, I would
also "walk" my
potential
employer through
an actual lesson
that exemplified
how to pull-off
a cooperative
learning
activity, such
as a
"cooperative
jigsaw", without
any classroom
management
problems.
*****sidebar*****
If you are
unfamiliar with
teaching
strategies such
as the
"all-write" and
the
"pair-share", I
strongly
recommend
reading my ebook:
52
Teaching Tips
@
www.52TeachingTips.com
If you are
unfamiliar with
cooperative
jigsaws or are
looking for
creative group
activities I
strongly
recommend you
read my ebook: eTeach:
A Teacher
Resource for
Learning the
Strategies of
Master Teachers
@
www.TeachingTeacher.com
*****sidebar*****
All of these
activities keep
students
actively
involved and
therefore reduce
boredom and
therefore limit
the opportunity
for classroom
management
issues to arise
in the first
place.
However, that
only addresses
the "boredom"
issue. The other
major reason
classroom
management
issues arise has
to do with
"student
confusion".
Therefore, make
sure to explain
how important it
is for teachers
to anticipate
and clear up any
possible
confusion about
what the
students are to
do.
Let your
interviewer know
that you plan to
clearly post
your daily
agenda and
objectives to
limit student
confusion AND
that you will
certainly
discuss both at
the beginning of
every lesson.
(Remember, these
things should
not be a
surprise to your
students.) Also,
explain how you
"check-for-understanding"
throughout the
lesson by simply
having students
repeat back your
directions.
By letting your
interviewers
know that you
understand
why
classroom
management
issues arise and
how to
address these
issues
BEFORE
problems arise
you will
definitely ace
the most
important
question in the
teacher
interview. |
