1. Can you please explain your discipline philosophy?
You use lots of positive reinforcement. You are firm, but you don't yell. You have appropriate consequences for inappropriate behavior. You have your classroom rules posted clearly on the walls. You set common routines that students follow. You adhere to the school's discipline guidelines. Also, emphasize that you suspect discipline problems will be minimal because your lessons are very interesting and engaging to students. Don't tell the interviewer that you "send kids to the principal's office" whenever there is a problem. You should be able to handle most discipline problems on your own. Only students who have committed very serious behavior problems should be sent to the office.
2. Tell me about your preschool teacher education (i.e. educational qualifications)?
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.
No human being is without their strengths and weaknesses. In your response, begin and end with your strengths. Do not overly emphasize your weaknesses, and mentioning one or two should suffice. If it is something that would possibly interfere with your work, explain how you compensate. Focus on your positive attributes and how they help you perform well.
4. Tell us about yourself as Montessori Coordinator?
This will be the first question at almost every interview. Just give a brief background in about three sentences. Tell them what colleges you graduated from, what you're certified to teach, what your teaching & working experiences are, and why you'd love the job.
5. What is the meaning of primary caregiver to a child?
This is a term used instead of 'mother' or 'father', as many children today are raised by one parent or another person entirely, be it relative or friend. This term avoids calling attention to each child's state. If there are children in the class whose primary caregiver is not the mother, sensitivity and forethought will allow you to tell all kinds of stories without upsetting or embarrassing children.
6. How do you teach to the state standards as Montessori Coordinator?
If you interview in the United States, school administrators love to talk about state, local, or national standards! Reassure your interviewer that everything you do ties into standards. Be sure the lesson plans in your portfolio have the state standards typed right on them. When they ask about them, pull out your lesson and show them the close ties between your teaching and the standards.
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.
8. How will you prepare students for standardized assessments as a Montessori Coordinator?
There are standardized assessments at almost every grade level. Be sure you know the names of the tests. Talk about your experiences preparing students. You'll get bonus points if you know and describe the format of the test because that will prove your familiarity.
9. How would you handle a particular situation in a kindergarten classroom?
This question is more or less aimed at finding out whether you can think on your feet and how child-appropriate your course of action or thought is. Describe how you handle children wanting the same toy. Or what you would do if one child ruin's his classmate's art project or kicks and hits.
Detail how each child is spoken to; how you focus your attention on the injured party.
10. How to make sure you meet all the needs of a student with an IEP?
An IEP is an "individualized education plan." Students with special needs will be given an IEP, or a list of things that you must do when teaching the child. An IEP might include anything from "additional time for testing" to "needs all test questions read aloud" to "needs to use braille textbook." How do you ensure you're meeting the needs of a student with an IEP? First, read the IEP carefully. If you have questions, consult a special education teacher, counselor, or other staff member who can help you. Then, you just make sure you follow the requirements on the IEP word for word. When necessary, you may be asked to attend a meeting in which you can make suggestions for updating the IEP. Your goal, and the goal of the IEP, is to make sure the student has whatever he or she needs to be successful in your class.
11. Why did you select a preschool teacher as a career?
Being a preschool teacher is not an easy job. And not everyone can be a preschool teacher. There has to be some aspects in yourself that made you desire such a position and that will make you the perfect candidate for a preschool teacher job position.
One of the most important aspects is that you should have a natural love for kids and enjoy helping them and being surrounded by them. There is no place for irritability, intolerance or impatience in the job and life of a preschool teacher. These are the concepts that you should bring out in the interview answers, with perhaps a brief, revealing anecdote or two.
12. How do you communicate with parents?
This question will come up at almost every elementary school interview. It's fairly common in the middle school and high school as well. You might have a weekly parent newsletter that you send home each week. For grades 3 and up, you may require students to have an assignment book that has to be signed each night. This way, parents know what assignments are given and when projects are due. When there are discipline problems you call home and talk to parents. It's important to have an open-door policy and invite parents to share their concerns at any time.
13. Montessori Coordinator Interview Questions Part One:
► Why did you decide to become a teacher?
► Have you ever taken care of someone? Did you enjoy it?
► Do you consider yourself a risk taker? (Give an example to back up your answer.)
► Are you a positive and energetic person? (Give an example to back up your answer.)
► If a student said she thought you were the worst teacher she ever had, how would you react and what would you say?
► If I were your principal and we were setting goals for next year, what would they be?
► What is the last book you read?
► Have you ever considered publishing a book?
► Some people say you should demand respect. Do you agree or disagree?
► Tell me about yourself.
14. Montessori Coordinator Interview Questions Part Two:
► How would you rank these in importance and why? Planning, discipline, methods, evaluation.
► If a student came to you and said, "None of the other students like me," what would you tell him/her?
► Are you an empathetic person? Give an example.
► How can you tell that a person is a good listener?
► Are you an objective person? Give an example.
► What do you want to do with your life?
► How do you feel if a student does not meet a deadline?
► It is the first day of class, you are writing something on the board and a paper wad hits you in the back, what would you do? Later the same day, if all the students drop their pencils, what do you do?
► What was the most frustrating thing that happened to you as a student teacher?
► What was the best thing?
► Do you believe you should build rapport with students? If yes, how?
► How do you give your students recognition? Do you think a student can have too much recognition?
► How do you encourage students to learn? Can a student be forced to learn?
► How do you handle a child who seems gifted, but is a discipline problem?
► How do you prefer to use computers in the classroom?
15. Montessori Coordinator Interview Questions Part Three:
► How do you present a new word to a class?
► What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
► What is the role of the principal? Does a conflict exist between your perception of a principal's role and his/her role as your evaluator?
► Describe your student teaching experience.
► During your student teaching, were you ever involved with a situation at school involving racial tension? If so, how did you handle it?
► How do you establish authority/discipline? What do you do when a discipline problem arises?
► What subjects have you taught?
► Are you patient? Give an example.
► Do you ever feel angry toward your students?
► What will you be doing in five years?
► What is your educational philosophy?
► If you could create the ideal school, what would it be like?
► Do you like to be challenged? (Give an example to back up your answer.)
► What do you like most/dislike most about teaching?
► How do you feel about noise in the classroom? How do you handle noise in the classroom?
► How would you handle making a difficult phone call to a parent?
16. Montessori Coordinator Interview Questions Part Four:
► Why do you want to teach?
► Describe a time when a student challenged your authority in the classroom. What did the student do, and how did you respond?
► How would you describe your style of teaching?
► What was your greatest challenge in student teaching? How did you resolve it?
► What techniques do you use to keep students actively involved and motivated during a lesson?
► Imagine that some of your students have finished their assignments early. How would you deal with the free time they have?
► How have you worked with students who perform below grade level?
► Describe what experience you have in modifying lesson plans for students with special needs?
► Imagine that a student is consistently late to your class. How would you handle the situation?
► Describe how you like to implement technology in your lessons.
► What would you do if a student refused to do the work you assigned?
► What is your preferred method of communicating with parents?
► For what reasons or issues would you reach out to communicate with parents?
► Describe the process you would use in responding to a student who was disrupting the class.
► Explain a difficult situation you have encountered in the classroom, what you learned from it, and what you would do differently now.
► What about teaching in our district appeals to you?
► What courses have you taken that have been especially helpful in preparing you to teach?
17. Montessori Coordinator Interview Questions Part Five:
► Do you like kids?
► Do you like adults?
► Do you have a cell phone? If you get this job, you will not use it my classrooms. How do you feel about that?
► Can you cut an apple in half?
► Can you operate a laminator, copy machine, and a pair of scissors?
► Are you willing to learn how to operate these machines?
► Do you take criticism?
► Do you take criticism well?
► Can you follow directions?
► Can you follow written directions?
► Can you follow non-verbal directions?
► Are you willing to attend workshops, take notes, and learn new procedures?
► Are you flexible in that you can take lead of the class in case our teacher steps out?
► Can you answer the telephone in a professional manner?
► Can you call a parent and ask why a child is sick?
► Can you take a message, write it down, and will it be understandable?
► Can you conjugate the verb 'be'?
► Do you understand there is no eating during teaching, and are you willing to follow this rule?
► Do you understand our hours are 8:00 to 3:00 and you are to be here for the entire day?
18. Montessori Coordinator Interview Questions Part Six:
► Can you lift 50 pounds?
► Are you willing to lift 50 pounds?
► Are you willing to lift a 50 pound child off of a slide or toliet?
► Are you willing to lift chairs off the floor, every day and stack it on a table.
► Are you willing to lift a 10 pound cot off the floor and stack it as well?
► Are you willing and able to serve food to children?
► Are you willing and able to assist children open food and cut food into bite sized portions.
► How do you feel about helping children in the bathroom?
► How do you feel about children who are sick?
► Do you have any concerns helping a sick child change their clothing?
► Can you read this paragraph? (5th grade passage)
► Are you able and willing to read aloud?
► Are you willing to stay some evenings to help for programs, bookfairs, parties?
► Can you count money?
► Are you comfortable counting money?
► If you are given a direction that you don't agree with or understand, what is your reaction?
► Do you believe it is okay to criticize or correct another adult in front of children?
► Do you believe it is okay to critize or correct another adult who is your supervisor?
► Do you feel it is okay to leave a classroom without notifying your teacher?
► Do you have any personal or prior committments that may prevent you from working a full day?
► Do you have a prior engagement or surgery planned that you wish to share with us?
► Are you willing to help in another classroom when asked?
19. Montessori Coordinator Interview Questions Part Seven:
► Are you willing to clean tables, wash toys, and store materials?
► Are you willing to read, write, and spell words with children?
► Do you have any disabilities or conditions that will prevent you from jumping, running, or sitting on the floor engaging with children?
► Are you willing and able to interact with children throughout the classroom and outside.
► Are you willing to work in sand, mud, water, paint, both indoors and outdoors?
► Are you willing to follow the teacher dress code, and understand that you will be sent home if you are wearing anything deemed inapporpriate.
► Are you willing to call in to the office immediately when you realize you will be late or absent.
20. Behavioral Montessori teachers interview questions:
► What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
► How do you keep track of things you need to do?
► What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
► Give an example of a time you successfully worked on a team.
► Describe a situation where you had to plan or organise something.
21. Basic Montessori teachers interview questions:
► How did you prepare for this work?
► How would you describe your work style?
► Do you have any questions for me?
► What are you looking for in terms of career development?
► A team experience you found disappointing.
Describe your weaknesses as strengths.
Answer all Montessori teachers interview questions in a calm and collected manner and express an honest desire to work. Be sure to discuss a very specific example.
22. Interview questions to ask Montessori teacher position:
► Tell me about yourself?
► What are your biggest strengths?
► Why did you leave your last job?
► What are your career goals for Montessori teacher?
► Why do you want to work here?
► What are your greatest weaknesses for Montessori teacher?
► What do you know about our organization?
► What kind of salary are you looking for Montessori teacher?
► How long would you expect to work for us if hired?
► Do you know anyone who works for us?
► Why should we hire you?
► What Is Your Dream Job
► What are you looking for in a job?
23. Situational Montessori teachers interview questions:
► What would make you happy in a job?
► What have you been doing since your last job?
► What is the difference between a good position and an excellent one?
► Have you ever had difficulty working with a manager?
► How do you think you can make a contribution to this company?
24. Phone interview of Montessori Teachers:
► How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?
► What are you expecting from this firm in the future?
► What are three positive character traits you don't have?
► When were you most satisfied in your job?
► Tell me about yourself.
Try to avoid specific classifications, whatever it may be. Your answer should be focused on what you can bring to the role that will be of benefit to the company. Ask a friend or relative of yours to help you practice answering Montessori teachers interview questions.
25. Competency Based Montessori teachers interview questions:
► What were your annual goals at your most current employer?
► Why did you decide to pursue this career?
► What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
► What was the most complex assignment you have had?
► How would you describe the experience of working here?
