Top Preschool Teacher Interview Preparation Guide

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► Be able to communicate through written communications and verbally. For example you can use: newsletters, notes to home, progress reports and referral forms.
► Be well informed about early childhood terms and expectations to communicate your ideas for families and children, and they can understand.
► Be able to use a computer as a helpful tool for record keeping of student development, time saving in curriculum planning and communication to families, etc.

► Demonstrate a friendly attitude and extend your hand in greeting to the interviewer.
► Allow genuine enthusiasm to emerge when meeting the director and staff.
► Ask for a tour around the school.
► Listen carefully the questions and respond appropriately.
► Ask permission to take notes in the interview.
► Make questions and positive observations of the school and talk about how you will contribute at the school.
► Let the interviewer know your interest in the job. After the interview, consider sending a brief thank you note as a follow-up.
► Consider attending a club of speaker to improve for interviews and parent interaction.

► Learn about the school history, the mission statement, organization structure and teaching philosophy. You can review its website.
► Search information about needed proofs for this job interview.
► Find out if the school is known by parents or students on other sites. You can read on-line and newspaper sources.
► Know the most common questions before going to the interview.
► Practice a mock interview with a friend until you feel comfortable.
► Ask questions about the school and your future job responsibilities. Keep in mind that an interview is a two-way process. They want to know about you and you want to learn about them.
► Dress comfortably and appropriately. Business Casual is recommended for job interviews. For women, long fingernails and high heels are not a good idea for a preschool teaching job.
► Be early at the interview and have a copy of your resume.

► What areas do you need to improve?
► How do you communicate the progress of children to parents?
► What are basic tasks for a preschool teacher?
► Which are the skills for preschool teacher?
► What system do you use for evaluating children work?
► Which is the ideal philosophy of a school for you?
► How do you describe to your last principal?
► What are the best words to describe yourself?
► Why do you choose to be a preschool teacher?
► What is your teaching philosophy?
► What particular books do you include in your classes?

► What is the most important thing that children can learn?
► What curriculum did you use above?
► How do you verify if a child is developing skills?
► How do you know if your teaching strategies are effective?
► What things can define the success of a preschool teacher?
► How do you know if you are a successful preschool teacher?
► Are you qualified as an excellent preschool teacher?
► What strategies do you use to encourage children to work in groups?
► What qualities do you hope in a principal?
► How do you handle children with behavioral problem in class?

► 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?

► 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?

► 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?

► 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?

► 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 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?

► 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?

► 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?

► 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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.