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Can You Force a Student to Learn? Job Interview Question for Teachers

job interview question for teachers Can you force a student to learn?

Here is a question you might get on your next teacher job interview: Can you force a student to learn? In what ways do you encourage students to learn?

Do you know how you would answer this teaching job interview question?

It is important that the response you give to the job interview question is truthful, relevant to the position, and shows your value to the school district. The following could be a possible answer, or it may provide some ideas for you to tailor your response:

No, you can’t force a student to learn, but there are many great methods to encourage students to learn. Teachers who support learning produce individuals who are better educated and more prepared for the future.

Helping students learn requires extra time and effort on the teacher’s part, both in and out of the classroom. To encourage my students, I set high expectations, change my instructional methods consistently, use students’ interests, teach students to set goals, and monitor student progress.

By setting high expectations for my students, it will impact my students’ rate of success. I tell my students what I expect from them at the beginning of the year and each lesson’s start. I also find it helpful to put the learning goals in writing and hang them in the classroom as a useful reminder.

Changing my instructional methods keeps students interested and motivated to learn. Students respond best to a wide range of teaching techniques. I modify the way I present lectures, demonstrations, cooperative learning, and discovery learning. Using creative teaching methods helps maintain student interest during class.

When explaining an idea or implementing an activity, I use students’ interests. By planning activities that incorporate their interests with the learning goals, students will be more excited to learn and retain what they’ve learned.

I teach my students to set goals for their classwork and in their private lives. This skill not only helps in class and school but in their personal lives and future careers. Students who have goal-setting skills develop excellent time management and organizational skills.

Recommended Reading: 28 Ways to Incorporate a Growth Mindset Concept in the Classroom

To ensure students will be motivated to learn and complete the desired tasks, I evaluate them on what they should already know about a subject. Before I begin instruction on a topic, I discuss the issue with a question-and-answer period. I use the feedback from this session to determine my starting point for the class.

While teaching and students are engaged in learning activities, I monitor students to comprehend the material and not look bored or confused. After, I review difficult or complicated information for students who may be struggling. Lastly, while monitoring students, I will provide constructive feedback and positive reinforcement strategies to encourage students and motivate them to continue learning.

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