Teacher Interviews Pt 2: Discipline

In part one, we started to look at some of the potential questions you may encounter when seeking a position in the education field, specifically that of a teacher. We looked at ways to formulate an answers to such a question as "what do you see as your weaknesses." We hope to bring to mind some of these questions so that you can be prepared with a formulated response, and not be caught off guard. For this installment, we turn to the issue of classroom discipline.

Discipline is a hot topic, and the news is full of discipline issues that happen inside the classroom. In this day when most everyone's phone has a built in video recorder, more and more live action videos of classroom and school yard issues are making the rounds on the internet.

So, how do you handle various issues that require some form of discipline? If you are already an experienced teacher, you probably already have a favored method. If you are new to the teaching field, do some research, ask other seasoned teachers, understand some of the various accepted forms of discipline (time out, send them out of the classroom, etc.), then begin to formulate how you would best handle the classroom situation as well as the interview question. Remember to cater your disciplinary technique to the grade level you are applying for.

Be prepared to explain not only your technique, but try to also include examples and scenarios where you have applied the discipline, and why you feel this technique is your favored choice. Do you establish the ground rules for your discipline clearly at the start of each school year? Do you require the students to agree to the disciplinary methods so they are fully aware of the consequences? Does your disciplinary method seek to be punitive or instructed? Give as much details to the philosophy of your plan as possible.

If you are a seasoned teacher with an already established standard form of discipline, don't be afraid to research other techniques that may be more currently employed by others, and be open to adjusting your method with the desired affect to be more effective.
 

Look for more tips to come in future posts on this topic, to help you be better prepared for the interview process.

 

Jeff McCormack resides in Virginia Beach, VA. where he works as a web designer by day. In his off time he is a husband, father, mail order book store manager, and an avid musician who is active in two local bands. He is also a lover of books, having a large personal library and squeezes in as much reading as often as he can. Aside from being a freelance writer for this Education Jobsite blog, he also seeks to assist in career choices and information by contributing to other Nexxt blog sites.