Substitute paraprofessionals are temporarily appointed to provide teaching assistance to teachers. They prepare teaching materials, monitor classroom activities, and assist with classroom management. They may also co-teach lessons and reinforce lesson content.
When interviewing substitute paraprofessionals, look for candidates who exhibit knowledge of teaching methods and the ability to appropriately guide and encourage students. Be wary of candidates who fail to demonstrate a passion for teaching and those with poor communication skills.
15 Substitute Teacher Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
Being a substitute teacher is an interesting job. Some people have a lot of experience and were teachers at one point. You’ll also find that many recent graduates with teaching degrees take jobs as substitutes before they land a permanent position. And then you’ll see some people who have never taught who are working as subs.
The type of substitute teacher job you’re looking to get depends on your interests and qualifications. It can also depend on the school district that you want to work in. Some have stricter guidelines on who can work as a sub and others are just happy to have a responsible adult who loves working with children while the regular teacher is gone.
The disparity between applicants and different substitute teacher positions means there will be a lot of options for interview questions. At Zippia, we are employment experts. We’ve pulled together a lot of different questions that are asked of potential substitute teachers.
Below are a collection of questions you may be asked. Some are common interview questions that just about every substitute teacher gets asked, others might be more specialized and may not apply to your situation.
Before we dive into the questions, it’s important to note that we really can’t answer your interview questions for you. What we can do is give you an idea of what the hiring manager or recruiter is looking for when they ask you a question. We’ll try to help you anticipate the question so you can consider how you’ll answer.
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10 Substitute Teacher Interview Questions Answers
I have always loved working with children. I began college several years ago intending to become a grade school teacher, but then had children of my own. At this point, my children are grown and I’d like to slowly work on getting a teaching degree while working in a school.
I have taught sixth grade Sunday School at our local church for about ten years. I have completed about two years of college with an intended major in early childhood education. I plan on returning to school and completing my degree.
Catching the vibe and the mood early is essential. If the children are starting to get squirrely, I like to change the approach and distract them. If we’re reading, we stop and begin engaging. If we’re engaging and talking and it’s a little too much, then I like to calm them down.
I have looked into your school policy and see that there’s a no-tolerance policy. This means, if I cannot head off an incident before it happens, then when I am made aware of it I will send the instigator or both parties, if I cannot tell who instigated, to the office.
There are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles. Often children will respond to one method more than the others. This is why it’s important to keep all three in the classroom, so each child has a chance to grasp the meaning. Visual means showing them the lesson so they can see it in action. Auditory means explaining the lesson so they can hear it and process it that way. Kinesthetic is learning through doing or hands-on experience. Since this isn’t always possible with each lesson, taking notes can take the place of physically doing a lesson. But I believe in working in a kinesthetic lesson whenever possible.
I have taught Sunday school for several years. While I understand this is not a religious education program, I feel my experience helps me relate to younger people and explain topics in a way they can understand.
I do – but as a student. I am currently taking a couple of refresher courses at the technical college. One is a basic accounting class and the other is on diversity in modern society.
As a mother of four, this is something I, unfortunately, deal with on a pretty regular basis. The key is staying calm and trying to figure out what is actually bothering the child. Typically, it is something that they don’t have the words to express, or they don’t recognize themselves. This is easier with my own children than with my Sunday School classes, but discovering the underlying issue seems to always do the trick.
When I’m teaching, I read or reread the lesson I’m going to teach. Then I break it down into learning moments and try to come up with an interesting and relatable way to explain the lesson. Because religion is “old,” I try to think of a modern story, or I ask them if they can turn the story into a modern one. When substitute teaching, I’m sure I would follow a teacher’s lesson plan as closely as possible if that’s an option.
I try to be approachable, yet authoritative. I’m not there to be their friend but I want to be trusted. Eye contact, a strong and confident voice, and a friendly smile go a long way toward building rapport.
Be prepared to describe your classroom management strategies in detail, including how to handle disruptive or off-task students. Some interviewers might ask you to describe a situation that you feel you mishandled in the past and to state how you might have done things differently. Keep the story brief, noting the correct steps that you took before identifying an element that could have been handled a different way.
Morgan Rush is a California journalist specializing in news, business writing, fitness and travel. Hes written for numerous publications at the national, state and local level, including newspapers, magazines and websites. Rush holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, San Diego.
Substitute teachers are expected to teach whatever grade level is assigned to them at the school. But principals sometimes ask which grade levels you prefer. Although you can state that you feel comfortable in all grade levels, interviewers genuinely want to know where you shine so that substitute placements are an effective fit. Substitute teachers at an elementary school might prefer teaching fourth or fifth grade rather than kindergarten or first grade. Being honest about your preferences indicates self-knowledge and confidence. It’s also a good way to discuss your prior experience. You might highlight your experience teaching U.S. history and relate that to your qualifications for teaching high school history classes.
Schools sometimes hire substitutes for long-term teaching positions that could last for weeks, months or the majority of the school year. Not all substitute teachers like long-term assignments, because it can require substantial amounts of time for lesson planning and grading, which might not be incorporated into the daily substitute rate. Long-term subbing is, however, a great way to make connections with teachers and administrators on-site and can sometimes lead to full-time positions. When asked about long-term substitute teaching assignments, consider whether you can commit to the entire contracted time period before agreeing.
Schools often operate in high-stakes environments when it comes to preparing students for state-mandated standardized tests, so most principals need substitutes to capably handle the required content areas. Rather than dwell on your sing-along skills with kindergartners or your joking manner with high school students, refer to your content-related skills. If you’re familiar with guided reading, differentiated instruction or calculus, highlight these capabilities when asked about content area knowledge during the interview. Showing your versatility also makes you a more valuable substitute since you can fill in for multiple teachers with ease.
In your opinion, what is the role of a substitute teacher in a classroom?
Most substitute teachers simply try to maintain order in the classes. They tell children to play, or to do their homework, and that’s it. However, you should show a different attitude in your interview.
Say the interviewers that you will look at the lesson plans of a regular teacher, ask students what they did in the last lesson, and start from there. Maybe you aren’t an expert in the topic, but as long as you have books and goals for the lesson, you will at least try to move forward with the students. This is easier at elementary level, but you will try at any level of education.
Members of the hiring committee know that it’s not easy to lead an effective lesson in a foreign classroom. You do not know the students, or the most effective teaching methods. You may fail, but you will at least try. Your role is to try your best to continue where the regular teacher stopped. That’s the attitude they seek in a good job applicant.
FAQ
What questions are asked in a substitute teacher interview?
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- What would your colleagues say are your best qualities?
- Why do you want to be a substitute teacher?
- What’s your greatest accomplishment?
- Where do you want to be in five years?
How to be a substitute Teacher for Katy?
- 60 minimum semester/quarter hours completed for Substitute Teacher positions.
- Foreign transcripts evaluated for U.S. equivalency.
- GED or High School Diploma for Paraprofessional positions (clerical/aide)
- Proof of right to work in the U.S.
- Criminal History Check.
- Interview and Skills Test
