General Teaching Practices
Best Practices of Teaching Social Studies
Making a Good First Impression
Building Community & Student Engagement
Ask Me An Interview Question
100
Using varied informal techniques to check student understanding throughout a lesson is known as this type of assessment.
What is a formative assessment?
100
Examining an event or issue from the viewpoints of different individuals or groups involved is known as considering these
What are Multiple Perspectives?
100
Regardless of personal style, presenting oneself in a neat, clean, and appropriate manner for a school setting or interview demonstrates respect for the profession and the institution
What is professional dress? (or professional appearance)
100
These can serve as mental resets and provide lighthearted opportunities for students to share preferences and learn a bit about their classmates.
What are brain breaks?
100
Describe a time you faced a challenge in your student teaching or field experience and how you overcame it. What did you learn?
Choose a specific, relevant challenge. Clearly explain the situation, the actions you took to address it, and the positive outcome. Most importantly, articulate what you learned from the experience and how it will inform your future teaching practice
200
This involves creating a structured outline of what will be taught and how
What is Lesson Planning?
200
This student-centered approach involves structuring learning around compelling questions
What is Inquiry?
200
Arriving on time for interviews, meetings, classes, and duties shows this important professional trait.
What is punctuality?
200
This initial instructional activity aims to hook student interest and activate prior knowledge.
What is an anticipatory set?
200
Tell me about yourself
Focus on your passion for teaching, relevant experiences (student teaching, volunteer work), key skills (communication, organization, classroom management), and a brief mention of your educational background. Connect these points to the role you're applying for
300
Tailoring your instruction to meet the diverse needs of all learners is known as this.
What is Differentation?
300
To bring history to life in the classroom, teachers often use this type of resource – an original record or firsthand account from the time period being studied, like a letter or artifact
What is a Primary Source?
300
Whether written, verbal, or non-verbal, this is the fundamental process of conveying information and ideas effectively with colleagues, students, and families.
What is communication?
300
According to this educator's reflection, what foundational aspect of teaching can often bridge early career gaps and leave a lasting positive impact on students' learning and memories?
What are strong relationships with students?
300
Why do you want to teach at our school?
Mention specific aspects of the school that appeal to you (e.g., its mission, values, programs, community involvement). Show you've done your research and align your goals and philosophy with the school's.
400
This metacognitive process encourages both teachers and students to think critically about their learning and practice, identifying areas for growth and improvement
What is reflection?
400
Explicitly teaching students how to evaluate the credibility and bias of sources is a best practice for developing this critical thinking skill.
What is source analysis (evaluating sources)?
400
To make a strong impression and provide key information to the interview committee, what are the three crucial documents a pre-service teacher should typically bring to an interview
What are a resume, sample lesson, and cover letter?
400
Establishing agreed-upon expectations for behavior and interactions, created with student input, helps create a sense of shared ownership and respect within the classroom. What are these shared guidelines often referred to
What are classroom norms? (or community agreements)
400
Imagine I am a principal or supervisor walking into your classroom during a typical lesson. Describe what I would likely see happening in terms of student engagement, activities, and the overall learning environment.
Answers will vary
500
This hierarchical model of cognitive learning objectives can guide teachers in crafting discussion questions that move students beyond basic recall to deeper levels of understanding and critical thinking
What is Bloom's Taxonomy?
500
Encouraging students to take informed action based on their learning about social issues aligns with the goal of fostering this crucial aspect of citizenship
What is Civic Engagement (Civic Action)?
500
Even after a strong interview, sending this to reiterate your interest in the position demonstrates professionalism and reinforces your positive first impression.
What is a thank you email?
500
This student-centered discussion technique encourages learners to actively listen to one another, build upon each other's ideas, and facilitate the conversation primarily amongst themselves, with the teacher acting as an observer
What is a spider web discussion?
500
If you were to begin teaching a unit on the American Revolution to middle school students, describe how you would make the content engaging and relevant to their lives beyond simply memorizing dates and names. What are some specific strategies or activities you would employ?
Connect to human stories- perspectives of all involved
Connect to modern day- standing up for what you believe in
Inquiry-based activities- compelling questions