There is no question that the competition for teaching jobs is extremely tough. I have sat on teacher interview committees where we had narrowed it down to four people for the open teaching position and it broke my heart that I had to tell three of them they did not get the job despite being excellent teachers.
If you are getting calls for interviews, but you are not able to seal the deal and secure yourself a teaching position, you need to look at every aspect of the interview�you need to do every little thing to separate yourself from the intense competition.
There are many things teachers should do during the interview, but one of the most overlooked is asking questions of the interview committee.
I am always shocked at how many candidates simply do not do this�or don't put as much emphasis on it as need be. By asking questions you are accomplishing two main goals. One, you are determining if this is actually the right teaching job for you, and two, you come off and giving the appearance of confidence�don't underestimate this.
Also, by asking the correct questions at the correct time YOU begin to take over and control the job interview. The interview then becomes more of a two-way conversation between colleagues on the same level than it does a one-way interview in which the candidate is simply fielding questions from superiors.
I have always said that the best interviews are the ones that don't "seem" like interviews�they felt natural�they felt more like conversations.
However, what questions you ask are also important. You don't just want to ask questions for the sake of asking questions�you want to ask the right questions. And, by asking the right questions during your teacher interview you will separate yourself from the other candidates applying for the same teaching job.
Unfortunately, many people just can't seem to come up with the right questions.
Here are 10 questions you should ask during your next teacher interview:
1. How many classes would I be teaching?
2. How many "preps" does this position require? (Remember, you may only be teaching 5 classes, but if you have four different "preps" for four different subjects you may be in trouble)
3. Would I have my own classroom? (Having to teach in different classrooms can make teaching much more difficult)
4. Do you have a teacher mentor program? (A teacher mentor program can be a new teacher's saving grace, but veteran teachers can benefit from them as well)
5. Will I have opportunities for professional development? (You want to give the impression that you plan to grow professionally)
6. What type of access would I have to technology? (Grade book software, email, united streaming, etc.)
7. What duties are required of the position? (Lunch, hallway etc.)
8. What type of extracurricular activities can I get involved with?
9. How much planning time do teachers have? (Don't ask this question first�it will come across as planning time is your most important question. However, planning time is important and different schools will have different amounts of time allotted for teacher planning so you should make sure you know before you accept any teaching job)
10. What is the school policy on inclusion?
Again, by asking questions during your interview you will establish an air of confidence about you. However, more importantly, you will determine if the school is truly a good match for YOU.
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Want to know the 25 most common teacher interview questions AND ANSWERS? If you�re serious about getting a teaching job and want an unfair advantage over the competition then read "Your Basic Guide to Acing ANY Teacher Interview" @ http://www.TeacherInterviewTips.com .
INDIGO: NOT JUST ANOTHER COLOR
Do you know the colors of the rainbow by heart? I guess you have encountered the acronym ROYGBIV to remember the colors of the rainbow. Let me guess? You might answer R for red, O for orange, Y for yellow, and so on. How about the I? Probably one of the not so common color that we encounter in our everyday life is the color INDIGO. Indigo got its name from a plant once used by the ancient Maya people for dyeing cloth. Mayan people used indigo because it was supposed to have a soothing effect on pregnant women and unborn babies. It is one of the oldest dye colors used in traditional printing and textile production. Today, it is primarily used for coloring the cloth for blue jeans or denims.
More than just an ancient dye color or one of the colors of the rainbow, indigo is no used as a color code for human personality. Individuals or “indigo personality types” are supposed to have unique psychological attributes that are normally exhibited starting from childhood. According to Nancy Anne Tappe, a “life color guru”, people with this personality are extraordinary, independent, and to some degree, even rebellious. In her book “Understanding Your Life Through Color”, Tappe said that individuals classified under this personality type are intelligent, possess remarkable memory, and tend to insist on doing things their own way. Being unconventional, they always try to do groundbreaking work in school and at work.
Indigo children are very sensitive, expressive and some may have psychic abilities. However, a child with this personality type may develop emotional problems, attention deficit disorder, or worse, violent tendencies. These children are expected to refuse traditional ways of learning or conventional knowledge. Most likely, they will try to show their teachers a “better way” of learning in school. Being headstrong, they do not like to be told what to do and they insist on getting their own way.
Research indicates that a majority of “Indigos” were born during the 1970s. Today, many of these remarkable human beings are supposedly occupy positions of leadership and influence. These exceptional people are still improving their skills, creativity, and wisdom.
What are some ways to find out if you belong to this unique personality type? If you want to know if you belong to this superb group of individuals, try to answer the following questions:
· Do you feel wise beyond your years?
· Do you have trouble in conforming to the ways of the society?
· Do you perceive the world differently than most people around you?
· Do you feel that you have a greater purpose in life that the world is not evident in other people?
· Do you feel isolated and misunderstood in your beliefs?
· Do you have unusual sensitivities?
If you are a parent, try to establish a closer relationship with your child in order to meet his special needs. You need to understand what is required to have a harmonious relationship with your extraordinary child. Love, tolerance, acceptance and respect will be basic parenting skills you need to raise an Indigo child.
But if it is you who is still wondering whether you belong to this personality type, start embracing the fact that you are a unique person and that you may possibly have an equally unique “calling” or purpose in life. Believe in the fact that here is still something to unfold in yourself.
Indigos are here for a reason; they want to contribute in making a better world...and they make our lives more colorful.
INDIGO: NOT JUST ANOTHER COLOR
Do you know the colors of the rainbow by heart? I guess you have encountered the acronym ROYGBIV to remember the colors of the rainbow. Let me guess? You might answer R for red, O for orange, Y for yellow, and so on. How about the I? Probably one of the not so common color that we encounter in our everyday life is the color INDIGO. Indigo got its name from a plant once used by the ancient Maya people for dyeing cloth. Mayan people used indigo because it was supposed to have a soothing effect on pregnant women and unborn babies. It is one of the oldest dye colors used in traditional printing and textile production. Today, it is primarily used for coloring the cloth for blue jeans or denims.
More than just an ancient dye color or one of the colors of the rainbow, indigo is no used as a color code for human personality. Individuals or “indigo personality types” are supposed to have unique psychological attributes that are normally exhibited starting from childhood. According to Nancy Anne Tappe, a “life color guru”, people with this personality are extraordinary, independent, and to some degree, even rebellious. In her book “Understanding Your Life Through Color”, Tappe said that individuals classified under this personality type are intelligent, possess remarkable memory, and tend to insist on doing things their own way. Being unconventional, they always try to do groundbreaking work in school and at work.
Indigo children are very sensitive, expressive and some may have psychic abilities. However, a child with this personality type may develop emotional problems, attention deficit disorder, or worse, violent tendencies. These children are expected to refuse traditional ways of learning or conventional knowledge. Most likely, they will try to show their teachers a “better way” of learning in school. Being headstrong, they do not like to be told what to do and they insist on getting their own way.
Research indicates that a majority of “Indigos” were born during the 1970s. Today, many of these remarkable human beings are supposedly occupy positions of leadership and influence. These exceptional people are still improving their skills, creativity, and wisdom.
What are some ways to find out if you belong to this unique personality type? If you want to know if you belong to this superb group of individuals, try to answer the following questions:
· Do you feel wise beyond your years?
· Do you have trouble in conforming to the ways of the society?
· Do you perceive the world differently than most people around you?
· Do you feel that you have a greater purpose in life that the world is not evident in other people?
· Do you feel isolated and misunderstood in your beliefs?
· Do you have unusual sensitivities?
If you are a parent, try to establish a closer relationship with your child in order to meet his special needs. You need to understand what is required to have a harmonious relationship with your extraordinary child. Love, tolerance, acceptance and respect will be basic parenting skills you need to raise an Indigo child.
But if it is you who is still wondering whether you belong to this personality type, start embracing the fact that you are a unique person and that you may possibly have an equally unique “calling” or purpose in life. Believe in the fact that here is still something to unfold in yourself.
Indigos are here for a reason; they want to contribute in making a better world...and they make our lives more colorful.
