Special Education Teacher Interview Questions in United States
Special education teachers work with students with disabilities to craft and lead a program that meets their educational needs. In a special education teacher interview, expect the interviewer to assess your competency, as the role calls for specialized knowledge. Consider preparing for situational questions about your methods and instincts.
Top Special Education Teacher Interview Questions & How To Answer
Here are three top special education teacher interview questions and how to answer them:
Question #1: How would you assess your students' progress?
How to answer: Explain how you follow state rules for recording progress while accounting for each student's unique needs. Discuss how you empower students by recognizing their strengths. You might also show the interviewer that you can apply different methods to work with a variety of students. Consider listing examples of strategies that worked for past students.
Question #2: Why did you choose to work with students with disabilities?
How to answer: This question allows you to share your personal connection to the work, which may distinguish you from others. Use this question to share your passion for teaching, but also explain why you are drawn to this challenging and rewarding area of teaching. Considering highlighting traits that make you a strong candidate, like empathy and patience.
Question #3: Why do you think it's important to meet with parents?
How to answer: Parents play a role in establishing a care plan for their child, and building a positive relationship with them may help you succeed. In addition to parents, you may also work with counselors and other professionals to tailor a program to a student's specific needs. Highlight your collaboration skills.
Do you think all students can succeed at high levels?
9 Answers
Why do I want to work with kifd
3 Answers↳
To my own personal feelings
↳
Preschool is a foundation to build a community, therefore in order to make the world a better place the avenue I chose to contribute is being a preschool teacher. Less
↳
When I recall my first-grade teacher how she shaped me, and how much love and kindness she poured into me inspired me to be a teacher. Less
What subjects are you qualified to teach? Are you flexible in your teaching style?
3 Answers
As a teacher in an urban setting, what discipline process do you utilize to manage your class so that you are able to educate all in your class?
2 Answers↳
The discipline process that I use to manage my class will be one that has built in positive behavior supports. Day 1 I will collaborate with my students to draft the class rules. This is important because I want the student to be able to not only read the rules but to know why these rules are important. Creating a classroom environment that is conducive to learning requires putting systems into place so that when students enter the class they know exactly what is expected of them. Having students be an intricate piece of the learning process and rewarding acceptable behavior is a part of how I as an educator will manage my classroom. Less
↳
I will say that I use positive behavior management I believe that first and foremost you must go in and build a relationship with each and every child be open to understand each individual‘s unique abilities once you have that relationship they tend to respect you I believe in setting The tone of how the classroom is going to run from day one these kids need structure and consistency if they know from day one what your expectations are and you keep them true to hold in those expectations then nine out of 10 times you will have a successful classroom I also believe in keeping learning fun no one likes boring especially these kids they like hands-on activities a lot of community-based learning. Rewarding good behavior is something that a lot of people don’t like however in my teaching style unless the student has hurt another person or themselves as far as the parents are concerned they had a great day because it’s my job to run My classroom take care of the consequences there when it’s over it’s over we move on and it’s a new day always give them the opportunity to redeem themselves for small behavioral issues and don’t give attention to negative behaviors and I have seen that when you give attention to when they are doing good and ignore when they’re doing bad they tend to turn to good behaviors Less
Why are you a good fit?
2 Answers↳
I think I would be a good fit here because I’m very responsible, hardworking, and very patient, especially when it comes to working with special needs individuals. I believe with the experience I have I know how to care for disabled individuals and how to react correctly to their different behaviors. Less
↳
I think I would be a good fit because I have some experience working with disabled people and even kids that have special needs. I have the patience and know the care disabled people need and how to react correctly to their behaviors. Less
how can you help a student? What is the IEP process?
2 Answers↳
The process of getting an IEP begins with an evaluation for special education. It ends with a written plan for services and supports. But the work of making sure your child is getting needed support continues long after that. Less
↳
I did well because I have years of experience.
How did you handle a stressful situation on the job?
2 Answers↳
Ethically, logically, professionally, and later emotionally I was able to get through a number of personally stressful situations and draw upon the experience of other professional to seek advice on best practice and method if I were to encounter similar events in the future to be better equipped and have the best possible outcome. Less
↳
An example of a stressful situation I’ve dealt with is, when I was working at the adult day services I dealt with a young adult individual who always wanted to get her way, and when she wouldn’t get her way she get very upset and start yelling or bothering others. When the individual would act this way I would take her to what we called the ‘sensory’ room which was kind of like a time out room for the clients and I would let her calm down in there and sometimes she would talk to me (which usually calmed her down) and when she was ready we’d go back into the activity. Less
What would you do if you heard a staff member speaking badly about another teacher, yourself, or a student in your classroom?
2 Answers↳
This was a difficult question, and I answered with well you never really know if they are just rumors but I would maybe ask the teacher to speak to me personally about it, and if anything were to get out of hand, I would like to bring the administration into the situation. Less
↳
I would talk to the staff member, and outline some strategies they might use in discussing their concerns. I might offer some reasons for the staff member's behavior. Less
How do you imagine a typical day in a class? What would we see if we come in the middle of the lesson?
2 Answers↳
I have learned over the past 12 years that lesson plans are usually not suitable for life skills every day is different every day is a new day and no two days or ever the same if you have a lesson plan or Payson map and a behavioral issues arise is your push behind I liked it teach my class according to the day if you came into my room in the middle of the day you would see small group happening depending on the class-size aids would be out with a group at electives and we rotate I have high expectations for my students I set the bar high for them and stretch them so that they can Do more than people expect they often do more if you challenge them of course it may not be with out a little complaining but over the years I have realized that people do not hold special education children to the same standard and I think that’s where we go wrong yes it can be modified however they should learn responsibility and know that they are just as important as everyone else and they should all be given the opportunity to excel Less
↳
Well, every lesson is different, every class is different and of course, every student is different. So it is hard for me to say what exactly you will see. But surely you will find there a well prepared teacher who cares about healthy development of each single pupil and does his very best to understand the needs and specifics of each student. That is what you would see in my classes. Less
It has been very different each time. Some ask to see a portfolio, some are not interested at all. I was asked some very specific questions, such as, "what were your students test scores from the previous year and how did you move their scores up?"
2 Answers↳
Thank you for being honest and answering the interview question.
↳
I responded that I used differentiated groupings for class work, manipulative s, and a variety of graphic organizers. That answer was not specific enough. They were not happy with me and were not shy to let me know it. Less