Preschool Teacher Interview Questions And Answers

Preschool teachers are encouraged to hold credentials in Early Childhood Education in the form of a Child Development Accreditation (CDA) or formal college education in Early Childhood or a related subject.

A preschool teacher is a type of early childhood educator who instructs children from 3 to age 5, which stands as the youngest stretch of early childhood education. Early Childhood Education teachers need to span the continuum of children from birth to age 8.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Students at the preschool level are in the initial learning processes which is why it is important for a teacher to come down to their level. I almost never reprimand my students for bad behavior although I do speak to them in a calm and controlled manner by explaining to them why they have behaved wrongly. At the end, I always encourage handshakes or high fives which helps in minimizing hard feelings.

It is the primary duty of a preschool staff to ensure that students are taught to develop a positive attitude towards education. It is import to build independence, raise confidence and celebrate students' differences. It is also important to ensure that students interact positively with each other.

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 question is a variation of the classic "tell us about your previous work experience and education" and I like it better because it should tell you more than you'll find on their resume. When I ask this question I'm listening not just to find out where they've worked and what they've done, I'm asking what they got out of those experiences. Have they grown with each job experience, and how? Hopefully I'll know if their experiences fit with what we do and if there's a solid foundation to build on. If they answer with a recitation of what's on their resume then I ask them to clarify further what happened at that job that significantly affected how they now work with children and families. Let them tell you which of their previous experiences were important. Finding out which jobs weren't helpful to their growth and why can also be revealing.

Handling an angry parent is difficult only if you've never done so. If the director is available, always tell the parent that they can speak with them. Never get involved, since it's not your place, and it's best handled by upper management.

Separate the two and speak to them individually. You probably know the answer to this as well.

If someone other than the parent comes, the school usually has a list of names the parents leave in case of an emergency. First contact the director. If they're not there, then call the parent to confirm pickup.

► Can you tell us a little bit about what you are doing at the moment?
► Why are you interested in this position?
► Describe to us the strengths that you feel you could bring to the job?
► What past experience do you have of working with children?
► What sorts of activities would you provide to occupy the children in your care?
► Tell us about any relevant training which you have had?
Would you be willing to take additional training?
► Can you tell us what you know about equal opportunities?

► Imagine that I am a dissatisfied parent, what would you do if I complained to you about the behavior of another child within the setting?
► What sorts of policies would you expect to see in a pre-school?
► How would you ensure good standards and practice within the setting?
► How would you aim to offer inclusion to children with special educational needs?
► Where do you want this job to lead?

► How long have you been teaching?
► What do you enjoy about teaching?
► Have you ever successfully potty-trained children?
► How would you handle an angry parent?
► How would you handle two kids fighting?
► If someone other than the parent came to pick up a child what would you do?

► What do you see as the role of play in a preschool classroom?
► What is the role of adults during Free Play?
► How do you prepare four years old for reading and writing?
► What's your favorite book to read to kids?
► What kind of activities could you do based on that book?
► How do you handle a child who is disinterested in the art activities you plan?
► What would you do if you saw a fellow employee strike a child?
► How do you handle biting?

► What would you say to a parent who wanted you to make her child learn to write his name at age 3?
► What would you say to a parent who demanded to know what child hit his child?
► How do you help a new child separate from his mom?
► At what times of day should the children wash their hands?
► What's your philosophy of how kids learn?
► What would you do with a child who would not sleep during nap time?
► How do you handle a fussy eater?

► What open ended activities do you do with the kids? what fun things do you like to do with the kids?
► How do you handle conflicts between the children?
► How will you involve different cultures in the classroom?
► How will you make parents feel welcome and get them more involved in the classroom?
► How will you incorporate learning during outside time?

► Why do you want to work with children?
► What was the biggest mistake you've ever made as a caretaker, or with a child/children?
► What do you feel qualifies you to care for children?
► Is there a particular accomplishment related to care taking of children that you are proud of?
► As a child, who were your biggest influences and why?
► What can you provide as a child caretaker that is unique or special?

► How are you qualified for this position?
► How has your education prepared you for this position?
► What are your strengths?
► What are your weaknesses?
► How do you feel your strengths and weaknesses influence things in a classroom setting?
► How would you try to encourage parent involvement?
► What are your career goals?

► What are you doing to achieve your career goals?
► What does PRIMARY CAREGIVER mean to you?
► How is it different among the different age groups?
► A parent comes to pick up their child and notices a bite received by another child, They become angry and demand to speak to the other child's parents. How will you handle the situation?
► A classroom is run on values. The values maybe designated by policy or influenced by the teachers and parents. What do you when a parent's different values interfere with classroom procedures?
► Is there anything else?