1. Why are you interested in this position in Physical Education?
Love working with kids
Grew up in the area/family in the area
I would consider this job a "dream job"
Student taught in the District and really enjoyed working with the students
Well planned curriculum and lesson plans based on state and national standards, student centered lesson plans, content that is age appropriate, an education that is as individualized as possible, student assessment that is appropriate, maximal participation time for students, inclusion of all students within the lesson, inclusion of technology to benefit the lesson, cross-curricular connections
3. Tell us how do you provide for individual differences in your class?
I would provide individual differences for students by using intratask variation. I will provide options for students at a variety of difficulties for every skill in order to reach students regardless of their current level of development.
Depending on the skill or activity, I could also use teaching by invitation in order to let students decide on the parameters of different activities in order to best match their own skills and abilities.
4. Tell me do you have any ideas on how we might promote our PE program in the community?
While at the Intermediate School I created a pamphlet for parents in the School District as part of an assignment for my Penn State Student Teaching experience. I created a pamphlet that introduced myself, introduce what units the students are performing at the school, explain the importance of physical education and provide opportunities in the community for adults and children to be active in the community.
I could also create a webpage that includes updates on student's performance and what students are performing in class.
I think that technology can be a huge asset to a physical education program. At the high school during student teaching with Mr. Vecchio, I was able to incorporate technology through the video analysis of his strength and conditioning class. Using the app "Hudl Technique" I was able to use video analysis to provide feedback to students on their lifting technique. I could slow down video and draw to illustrate the proper technique while verbally describing how to perform each lift. This way students can hear the description for the proper technique while simultaneously seeing a visual to further describe each lift. On my ePortfolio website, I have this illustrated under the teaching tab.
6. Explain me what do you expect to be doing 1 and 5 years from now?
In the next year I would like to be teaching health or physical education classes (or both) full time within this school district. I had the unique experience of completing my student teaching placement here in your District and loved being able to work with the students here. I'm from the area and grew up in Wyomissing and it would be wonderful if I was able to find employment here locally to be able to stay around my family.
Within the next five years I would like to continue to develop as a professional and continue to improve my skills and abilities as a teacher, while also becoming more involved in the school district. For example, I would like to continue to coach and participate in after school activities so that I can continue to work with and benefits the students and their development.
7. Tell us as Physical education teacher position, what are your weaknesses?
Turn this question into a strength question in disguise. For instance, say something like “I do not like not being challenged at work” or you could mention a weakness that has nothing to do with the job and that you can overcome with training. This way, you end up turning this potentially tricky question into a positive.
As much as you want to sell your self in a good light, do not make the mistake of exaggerating your current position. Add some of your routine tasks to make it realistic and don't neglect tings like paperwork. Try to be in the interviewers shoes as you answer this question. A job you have been doing for years should be part of you already and as such; you must know all the tasks you undertake. Try to show them that you plan well before you begin work and after you attain your goals, you review the process to see how you could be more efficient.
9. Tell us what is your best quality as a PE teacher right now?
I think that my ability to form and maintain positive relationships with students is one of my stronger qualities. Positive relationships with students helps me as a teacher to have the greatest affect on my future students not just academically, but also socially and emotionally as well.
10. Tell me how would you describe a developmentally appropriate curriculum?
A developmentally appropriate curriculum is one that is based off of the state and national standards for health and physical education. The curriculum needs to be able to help students according to their stage of development. At an elementary level, there is a focus on gross motor skills and basic movements to provide a foundations for more complex skills throughout their schooling. From there I would use scaffolding to build on the knowledge that they already have and are familiar with to continue to develop their physical skills and abilities.
I think that regular assessment and using the Plickers app and cues related to the skills that we learn in class. This way students receive an assessment for each class period and can provide evidence to support their learning.
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years in Physical Education?
Within the next five years I would like to continue to develop as a professional and continue to improve my skills and abilities as a teacher, while also becoming more involved in the school district. For example, I would like to continue to coach and participate in after school activities so that I can continue to work with and benefits the students and their development.
13. Tell us why do you want to work for us as Physical education teacher position?
Here, they just want to know how motivated you are about the position or if you are just there for the pay. They want to ascertain that you would form an important part of the company. You have to show them that you are willing to be part of the company and would do all you can to ensure you and the company grows together.
14. Tell us why should we hire you as Physical education teacher position?
This is a very common question that is asked in almost every interview. I love this question because it gives you the opportunity to sell yourself. Discuss what makes you standout from the crowd and show them how you can help advance their company. Remember to be specific. This is where all the company research you have done comes into play. You should have an idea as to why the company is hiring or looking to hire someone for that position. What problem do they have that they are looking for people to help them solve? And once you can establish this, you are to show them how you can solve this problem for them.
At the high school during student teaching with Mr. ABC, I was able to incorporate technology through the video analysis of his strength and conditioning class. Using the app "Hudl Technique" I was able to use video analysis to provide feedback to students on their lifting technique. I could slow down video and draw to illustrate the proper technique while verbally describing how to perform each lift. This way students can hear the description for the proper technique while simultaneously seeing a visual to further describe each lift. On my ePortfolio website, I have this illustrated under the teaching tab.
While at the Intermediate School during student teaching I was able to create a fitness lesson plan that integrated knowledge students had of the geographic locations of states around the United States. Similar to the TV Show "The Amazing Race" students would travel from state to state performing exercises at each state (states were set up as they would be on a map throughout the gymnasium)
I have experience coaching a swim team as well as the girls lacrosse team here at Mifflin and would be opening to other coaching opportunities should they present themselves.
I was the assistant coach at Bellefonte High School for their swim team, which went on to become District 6 champions for the men's team.
I've also been fortunate enough to work with Mrs. Allen here at the High School with the girls lacrosse team and primarily worked with the JV team to improve their skills and abilities to compete for a position on the varsity team. We've been fortunate to have one of the greatest seasons in the history of the lacrosse program (or so I've been told!) and I've really enjoyed working with the girls on the team.
18. Tell me what tasks do you find most difficult as a teacher?
One of the most difficult aspects of teaching is creating lesson plans that are capable of allowing all students to develop their skills and abilities and be successful despite the variety of ability levels that I will find in my future classes.
19. Tell us why did you decide you were interested in becoming a PE teacher?
Being a PE teacher helps me work on both of my major passions at once: health and education. I have always loved to exercise, and I've always been really interested in fitness. At the same time, I love spending time with children and helping them learn new things. As a PE teacher, I get to help inspire kids to take care of their bodies, enjoy movement, and learn sports and games. I get to spend my days moving and helping others at the same time.
Improved physical fitness, motor skill development, regular physical activity, improved academic performance, self discipline, stress reduction, strengthened peer relationships, improved self confidence and self esteem, ability to set goals
Physical education is not the same as recess. Students have skills and abilities that they learn and are assessed on in physical education. As a teacher, I design lesson plan based on State and National Standards aimed at demonstrating the learning taking place in lessons. Aspects of a unit in physical education such as a pre and post test help to exhibit the skills that students learn. Just like any classroom subject (such as math for example) students may enter the addition unit of a math class not knowing how to add numbers together. After learning how to add numbers, students take a post test in which students can show their level of understanding. The same is true for physical education. Students may come into a basketball unit with little to no understanding on how to dribble a basketball. By the end of the unit, students are assessed on their dribbling ability and are able to show their level of understanding through their performance of the skill.
I have a passion for teaching and working with children. Teaching students is incredibly rewarding and something I greatly look forward to providing to my future students. Physical activity in today's society is needed now more than ever and encouraging young students to be active and establishing the foundation for a healthy and active life is a challenge that I look foward to meeting.
Discuss your method of assigning responsibility to the best candidates. How you communicate with employees to make them understand what is expected of them and how you make sure that the employees have the resources needed to carry out specific tasks. You should also chip in your follow-up procedures.
24. Explain me what would you say are the three major goals of a physical education program?
Of course I think every PE program has multiple goals, but the major ones should be teaching about health and fitness, teaching about collaboration and cooperation, and getting kids moving as much as possible. I want kids to come away from my classes with a good understanding of why it matters to take care of their bodies as well as their minds. I want them to understand why working together can be just as important as competing. Finally, I want kids to spend as much of my class as possible moving and exercising.
I think that one way I can reach parents is to encourage an open line of communication as well as send out a publication to introduce myself as well as show parents what their students are learning in physical education class.
While at the Intermediate School I created a pamphlet for parents in the School District as part of an assignment for my Penn State Student Teaching experience. I created a pamphlet that introduced myself, introduce what units the students are performing at the school, explain the importance of physical education and provide opportunities in the community for adults and children to be active in the community.
