Elementary Teacher

► Do research on the internet to discover all you can about the school, school district and community: characteristics of the student population and faculty, size of the district, mission statement, upcoming initiatives, discipline plan, etc. Prepare to incorporate what you learned into your answers during the interview.

► If you know someone on staff or a child who attends the school, ask them questions that are not covered on the website. Also, find out as much as you can about the interviewer(s).

► Call the school and ask to receive a student or school handbook to review.

► Ask the secretary or personnel official what format the interview will follow and the number of interviewers.

► If feasible, ride by the school to note its location, surroundings, appearance and other characteristics.

► Be prepared to answer questions in written form immediately prior to being interviewed if requested to do so.

► Make sure you have an outfit that is clean, pressed, and comfortable, such as a suit or a neutral colored dress, skirt or pants with blouse and jacket. In most cases men should wear dress pants, shirt, tie, with a sport coat though for some formal school districts a suit may be most appropriate. Put everything you decide to wear aside in case you are given little notice of an interview.

► Make several copies of your current resume and letters of reference.

► Since first impressions are extremely important, look your best. Your hair should be clean and styled and your fingernails should be filed and unobtrusive. Dress conservatively and professionally.

► On your way to the interview, remind yourself that you are a great teacher and that any school would be fortunate to hire you.

Expect questions about your teaching strategies. You might be asked how you would reach individual students if the class was a heterogeneous group of varying abilities and backgrounds. A good answer will describe the differences between a Socratic, question and answer style and small-group cooperative methods. Explain how you structure student groups carefully to play to the individual student's strengths. Describe how you provide material that is challenging but manageable. Your answer should demonstrate an awareness that lessons should be divided into segments with a variety of listening, speaking, reading and writing activities. Tell the interviewers how you provide ongoing assessment and prompt feedback to keep students informed about how well the class is learning and to help students monitor their progress.