Math Teacher Interview Questions
Teaching maths at the primary and secondary school level is an involved position that requires patience and a commitment to helping each student achieve success at an appropriate level. Students often need extra attention in this subject, so employers are looking for instructors who not only have a firm grasp of their subject, but can also impart that knowledge in engaging and effective ways. Expect to answer questions about your teaching experience and style as well as how you would handle a variety of classroom scenarios. Although teaching credentials are required at state schools, this is not necessarily always the case at private schools.
Top Maths Teacher Interview Questions & How to Answer
Here are three top maths teacher interview questions and tips on how to answer them:
Question No. 1: What do you enjoy about teaching maths?
How to answer: An interviewer wants to know that the person they hire enjoys the role of teaching maths to students. Talk about the fulfilment you gain from educating students and helping them learn skills that can benefit them throughout their lives. Consider some of the most rewarding moments you have experienced when teaching and use those to highlight your commitment to this role.
Question No. 2: What is the biggest challenge you face as a maths teacher?
How to answer: Maths can be a challenging subject to teach, especially to students who struggle with maths or consider it to be too difficult to learn. As you answer this question, it is helpful to describe how you teach in a way that engages all the students in the class and any of the tools you use to avoid becoming discouraged by students who struggle.
Question No. 3: Why do you want to teach at this school?
How to answer: Maths teachers are in demand at schools of all levels and across the globe, so it is important to discuss why you want to teach at this location specifically. You can use this question to reference any research you have performed about the school and its reputation, curriculum, staff and student needs. Demonstrate the teaching skills you have that make you a good fit for the school.
How would you handle it if you had a group of kids in line outside your classroom waiting to get to the next period and they were yelling and cursing and acting out (middle school in troubled neighborhood)?
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I would tell them to please be respectful to their peers. Since I stand at the classroom door to welcome students as they enter the room, I would also remind them that their warm-up activity is on the board. Less
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I’d tell those student in what light others see them whenever they start yelling, cursing, and/or acting out. If they ever want anyone to take themselves seriously, acting out, yelling, and cursing isn’t the way. Some will argue that they don’t care of what others think out them, but the problem is that they do care or else those specific students would be one of the most silent within the classroom. Less
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I said that I would handle it in accordance with the policies of the school. I fumbled the question - I do not have any in class teaching experience. I did emphasize that I would try to show the kids respect and not let the situation get to that point. They were waiting for a 'magic' answer that I did not know and eventually I stopped riffing and we went to the next question. Less
Where should a teacher be in the classroom during class time? (ie. should the teacher stay up at the board, back at their desk or walk about the room)
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The teacher should instruct from the front of the room, and then, when finished, walk about the room, offering advice and assistance to the students Less
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In different zones, mostly in the power zone, i.e among the students focusing on what and how they are working. Less
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Teacher should be back at their desk or walk about the room)
What would your final grade be (for the year) for a child that scored averages of 18%, 68%, 70% and 72% (high school math)?
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That student’s final grade would be and 57%. Of course I’d have to explain to them why because the student averaged 70% and 72% in two separate quarters, but the work separately of those quarters term averages doesn’t count towards the work of the other Less
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I said that I would give them a C (70). They liked this answer. The by the book way to score this is to give the kid the average of all 4 quarters - and an F. I said that this would kill the spirit of the kid and the interest to learn. They followed up with "what if there was abuse in the home during Q1? a divorce? homelessness?" and a few others. "Would it matter if the kid was rich and drove to school in the BMW?" Less
What would you do if a student started swearing at you during class?
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remind the student that they are using street language not school language and they know the difference Less
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Usually for a student to escalate at that point there has to be some kind of frustration caused by either content or other outside factors. I am not there to get personally offended by the swears, I know they are let out to express the frustration and anger. I would really really try to assess that situation and leave any of my feelings out. I see that you are very angry and upset at this time, and I wouldn't want to add to more to those feelings. Could we please step outside the classroom to have a quick talk? If the students agrees to come in the hallway by the classroom door, I'd ask: "I know you are mad right now. And I really want to help you if I can. What is going on? What are you feeling? Or I apologize if I did anything or contributed to this situation. How can we work through this? What can I do to help you though this? Your input is really important in my classroom. I really need you in class. Can we make it work? Less
What do you think went well with your demo lesson?
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I think the structure of the lesson itself went well; (Do Now, Intro to Lesson, Independent Student Work and then Group Work). It was well planned out. Less
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I had a very similar experience. The recruiter was lovely and we interviewed two e on the phone. The 3.5 hr. in person was a different story. It felt like they were just trying to tear me down. They were like hardened icicles in their approach to the interview. It was very militant. No warmth at all. Less
When is cos x the same as cos (-x)?
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Always. cos(x) is an even function so cos(x)=cos(-x).
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At angle value = 0
What type of classroom management structure would you implement if you were hired?
1 Answers↳
I would use some effective reactive strategies including pre-planning alternate activities for students who finish early and become bored, having a redirecting strategy to use with students to switch a bad behavior into a good one, and responding quickly to an upset child or mediating issues between two or more children so that any undesirable behaviors do not escalate. Less
What Inspired You to Become a Teacher?
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I discovered that my love of children draws me to teaching and my own love of learning makes me passionate about teaching. I am eager to make a difference — people tend to remember their teachers for an entire lifetime, long after school is over. I was also inspired by a teacher earlier in my education who had a positive impact on me. A teacher may be seen as a leader, a mentor, or even a parental figure. Less
The school has fairly high academic achieves but we have some students who are tested at very low levels. -how can you teach these different levels in one class and reach your goals?
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Set up several stations use differentiated instruction techniques to the lost student but also step up the lessons so as to provide a f Rich learning environment Kea for the remaining Ett Less
How I would deal with students who have a very low level of English literacy.
1 Answers↳
I said I would use other students to explain the problem to them