INTERVIEW PREPARATION

CLICK HERE For: Interview Preparation Tips

This is an excellent Ministry site to guide you through the
interview process. Check it out!

My tips are below!

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Wickster's Interview Tips: 

1. Frame your answer !! Frame your answer!!
    Have a beginning and middle and end.
    This is the number one tip I have that makes
    a students stand out and rise above everyone else.

2. Use examples to support your points.
    If you are talking about what a rubric is, then
    give an example of how you implemented one
    and put it on the wall as an anchor chart.

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INTERVIEW PROCESS

1. The hiring process. The STEPS!

Have your resume on "Apply To Educate"

Ensure you have paid for your OCT license or you will have your interview cancelled. One of my candidates unfortunately learned this the hard way. 

Volunteer in April to June after you graduate.  It is a great way to get noticed and to network. 

Resumes are scanned for specific needs:

Math

Kindergarten

Senior Sciences

French

Arts

North

References Are So Important 

Have 3 of your best contacts that evaluated you. 

- a Principal or Vice Principal
- an Associate Teacher 
- A Cohort Advisor

Make sure they know they are references 

Coach your references on what to say. Refresh their memories 

Never Put References On Request. 

Your resume will be eliminated and not looked at. We have a lot of applications and do not have time to chase you down to find references. 

References

Only use colleagues who evaluated your performance. We can not take good friends or teaching colleagues. They are not objective enough and potentially biased. 

1a. What do boards need ? 

-         Intermediate

-         Math

-         Kindergarten

-         The Arts

2. Key "look-fors" for principals when hiring

-         Will you teach in the North areas of your  
          board or remote areas?  (YES you will!)

-         How do you implement Comprehensive Literacy?:

          Modeled, Shared, Guided, 
          Independent Reading, 
          Gradual  Release of  Responsibility

-         What different kinds of reading strategies do you implement?

               ie Reading Writing Workshop?

-         How do you implement MakerSpace strategies into various

              subjects?

-         How do you implement the 3 step problem solving model into

             numeracy lessons?

-         How do you manage student diversity in your classroom

-         How do you address Social Justice and Equity in your  

             classroom?

-         How do you implement technology into different subjects? 

-         How do you differentiate your instruction?

-         How do you implement collaboration strategies? 

-         How do you implement Inquiry Model - Problem Based

             Learning?

-         How do you implement backward design planning?

3.  What should candidates include in their 

     cover letter?

   great grammar

   great stories

   spell names properly

   properly written style
   passion

4.  What do you look for in a resume

   2 Pages

   Not a diary

   Current data - not over 5 years old

  HR  assesses them before principals and they 
  like the Traditional Framework explained below

  EASY TO READ!!!!

    12 point

    Times New Roman

    I have seconds to go through your resume as an interviewer so

       keep your resume crisp, professional and clear 

  Proper Framework - use traditional style

      Ensure your name pops out

      Use the same heading on your resume as you have on 

          your cover letter 

      Include your Digital Footprint: twitter / web page

      Block Letters are used for subheadings

      Use bold letters for qualifications but do not use block letters
      Italics are used for the places you took various qualifications
      See Resume section to for an example of these points

   Body of Comments

         Neat

         Organized

         Teaching block with great pedagogy

         Informative bullets 
         Great subject specific content

   

  Include These Subheadings

  Extra Curricular Initiatives

  and / or 

  Hobbies / Interests 

  

Some of my colleagues go right to this heading because it shows different talents you bring to the school and it also shows you are looking after your own wellness 

5. What are common board initiatives?  Know them and

     reference them in your answers 

     Equity and inclusion

     Mindfulness

     Growth mindset

     Engagement 
         Inquiry, 
         Innovation, 
         Improvable ideas,    
        Technology

         Kindergarten inquiry

        Assessment

 Technology initiatives
   Google classroom
   Twitter usage
   Web Pages 

    AI

Literacy:

    Reader's/Writer's workshop model

Comprehensive literacy:

      Modeled, Shared, Guided, Independent Reading, Gradual  

      Release of Responsibility

Running Records:10 day record - especially for  weak readers

    The Fountas & Pinnell strategies 
    Levelled Literacy Intervention

 Numeracy Strategies 

    Problem solving

    Making thinking visible through strategies
    Math congress,   
    Discussion

    Creating flexible thinking through mental math 
    Via number talks 3x/week

          

Diversity

Our Seven Equity Lenses include:
• Ability
• Faith

• Race, Culture and Language
• Sex, Gender, Identity and Gender Expression

• Sexual Orientation 

• Socio-Economic

USE the following strategies to address this:

• Inclusive curriculum

• Address the arts

• Develop community

• Implement a safe environment and look after student and your own

     wellness 
• Implement DPA (Daily Physical Activities)

6. What Does an Interview Look Like?

On Entry:

How was the secretary treated

Arrive Early!!!!

Be professionally dressed 

Firm handshake

Eye contact
    Role play an interview with a friend - Practice !!!

7. What types of questions do you typically get asked?
   

FRAME YOUR ANSWERS
This one tip will make an excellent candidate outstanding.
Administrators are taught to listed to Framed Answers
     Have a beginning introduction - make it short
     Provide your answer and support with examples 
     End with a quick conclusion or summary statement 

TOPICS

Teaching Experience
Classroom Climate
Differentiation

Social justice in the classroom

Classroom Management Strategies 
Curriculum

          Numeracy

          Literacy

          Describe Units you taught

Instructional strategies 

         High Yield Strategies 
         Marzano

Special Education

Behaviour

Diversity

Technology 

Technology and Math

If there is not a lesson Lesson Plan left for you when you arrive as a supply teacher -  What do you do?

Provide an example of a conflict you had with an adult and how did

       you resolve it? 

Tell me about the PD you have completed. 

Ending An Interview -  provide the extra talents and interests you            bring to the school

When asked, Do you have questions??  No You do not.  Never!
      It gives you more time to make a mistake
      The interviewer does not want to be interviewed
      They are done and want to get to the next candidate

8. What is focus for 21st century teaching and
    learning in Halton?  

    The term 21st Century Learning is out of date.

    The new term is "Future Ready".

Fullan's 6 C's  - 21^st Century Competencies

•Character education:

 building resilience, empathy, confidence and  
 wellbeing.

•Citizenship:

 referencing global knowledge, cultural respect, 
 environmental awareness.

•Communication:

 getting students to apply their oral work, listening, writing and reading in varied contexts.

•Critical-thinking:

 designing and managing projects which address specific problems and

 arrive at solutions using appropriate and diverse tools.

•Collaboration:

 working in teams so students can learn with/from others.

•Creativity and imagination: (Innovation)

 to develop qualities like enterprise, leadership, innovation

To Address 21^st Century Learning Through:

- inquiry skills

- using technology to enhance learning,

- learning through problem-solving and inquiry

- coding

  Student Engagement Through:

- Learning environments that are focused on:
  21st century skills above and global  competencies

- students will be intellectually engaged in their
  learning as a result and socially engaged in their school.

- collaborative learning
- inquiry learning
- engaging strategies