Do you need to present a demonstration lesson plan as part of the teaching interview process? Does it give you the interviewing jitters?
You are not alone!
An increasing number of school districts include this step in the teaching interview selection process. Creating and delivering a demonstration lesson plan can either be a relief for the interviewee or a dreaded nightmare. Let this process be a chance to showcase your talents by following these tips.
A Demo Lesson Plan is an Excellent Time to Show Your Teaching Skills
Your demonstration lesson plan is your big chance to share your value with the interview panel. Also, it is an opportunity to show what you do best in front of peers.
As a teacher seeking a new position, you need to impress the interview panel, so you want to be sure to come up with a presentation that showcases your strengths and incorporates key teaching strategies for your subject, grade level, and student population.
In these hard times of layoffs and budget cuts, the competition for excellent teaching jobs is fierce; to stand out from the competition, you need to have something extra to propel you forward.
The hiring committee would like to observe your teaching style and its value to the classroom. The panel would like you to back the claims you made when writing your teacher resume with action in the form of a demo lesson plan.
The Benefits of Preparing and Performing a Demonstration Lesson Plan
Do you need to present a demonstration lesson as part of the teaching interview? Click To TweetThe demo lesson plan provides you with the opportunity to present a lesson in front of a group of students, teachers, or administrators in the school you want to work. View the demo lesson as your opportunity to shine. A demonstration lesson plan is a great opportunity for you if you don’t perform as well in traditional interview situations; you now have the opportunity to show the hiring committee your skills as an educator.
Rather than telling a committee or hiring manager about your teaching skills, you are fortunate enough to have an opportunity to use them.
In a demo lesson plan, the hiring committee is looking for:
- How well you engage students in learning.
- How prepared you came to deliver your lesson.
- How you present yourself as an educator.
How to Prepare for a Demonstration Lesson Plan
When you are first asked to give a demo lesson, make sure the hiring committee provides you with all the necessary information. If not, ask them practical questions to assist you in developing your presentation, such as:
- How much time will you have to conduct your lesson?
- Will, your lesson be a section of a larger lesson, or will it be its own class period?
- What grade level will you be teaching?
- What is the class size?
- What is the make-up of the student population? (ELL, above, below grade level, at-risk, etc.)
- Should your lesson be dedicated to a particular subject or topic?
- What are the students currently learning?
- What learning materials and technology are available for your use?
Knowing the answers to these questions will help you prepare your lesson better and ensure the students will receive it well.
Plan The Demonstration Lesson
Once you have the information about your class and the learning objectives, you will need to plan your lesson. You aim to catch the students’ attention and keep them engaged throughout the demo session, so you must choose a great lesson that includes hands-on activities.
Once you’ve selected your lesson, go over and over it until every single detail of it is well prepared. Review possible questions that might pop up and make sure you have ready answers.
If you need to create a lesson from scratch instead of using one from your arsenal, you will need to:
1. Start with a learning objective. Before beginning your lesson, decide what you want your students to learn by the end of the lesson.
2. Decide on the format of your lesson. Once you know what you will be teaching, figure out the structure, pacing, format, and activities to make up your lesson.
Once your lesson is created, ask yourself these questions to make sure it is ready to go:
- How does your lesson check for current knowledge?
- How do you plan to introduce your lesson?
- How do you capture students’ attention at the beginning of your lesson?
- What activities have you incorporated to allow students to practice the new concepts?
- How do you assess students’ learning?
- How do you check for understanding?
- What adjustments have you planned to make in case students require extra practice or review?
After you prepared your lesson, you must review it thoroughly before your interview. You want to be familiar with your lesson’s content and sequencing, so you are more at ease while presenting.
- Create a written lesson plan for your demo lesson plan that you can refer to quickly throughout your lesson.
- Additionally, practice your presentation to ensure the timing is right and you’ve left adequate time for questions and activities.
- Practice your teaching demo in front of a few people. Ask them to provide feedback on your language, engagement, flow, speed, and other areas.
Elementary Demo Lesson Plan Tips
When presenting your demo lesson plan, remember to remain composed, confident, and enthusiastic. The students will react to your energy and confidence, and your enthusiasm will be contagious.
It will help your lesson go smoothly if you find out your students’ level of knowledge on the topic you are presenting before you begin your lesson. When beginning your lesson, ask the class some questions about the topic to gauge their understanding and knowledge level. This will help you when you deliver your lesson.
Your goal is to follow the lesson plan you’ve prepared. However, try to be flexible in your delivery and remember that you will probably have to make some adjustments as you go.
Throughout your lesson, do not forget to check for student understanding. You don’t want to wait until the end of your lesson to determine whether your students have learned the objectives. So check for clarity throughout the lesson to make sure they are on task and are learning correctly.
To ensure your experience goes smoothly and that the students stay on task, implement positive classroom management strategies. Positively reinforce students’ efforts, as well as their good behaviors and practices, while fairly and adequately dealing with off-task behavior. By implementing effective and positive classroom management strategies, you will ensure your lesson runs smoothly while also assuring the hiring committee that you have strong classroom management skills.
Secondary & Post-Secondary Lesson Plan Ideas
One of the most popular high school or college level lessons includes a PowerPoint presentation. This method puts you in front of the observers as a teacher that knows what he/she is doing regarding presenting information and using technology.
Organize your slides correctly and make your timing perfect. Practice the sequence over and over before the interview. However, have a backup plan just if the equipment fails to work or a power failure. Use advanced teaching techniques, including interactive and didactic teaching methods, to keep your audience engaged and the session lively.
Besides the teaching presentation format, you might be asked to do a research presentation; this is more common for teachers seeking jobs in colleges and universities. If this is the case, only choose a small section from your dissertation and go over it before the interview day. As stated above, be ready for any questions that will be thrown at you (this will indeed happen).
Your reading must be clear, audible, and straight to the point while you also make references to your conclusions and how you arrived at them.
Steps to Take After Finishing the Demo Lesson Plan
Once you have completed your demo lesson plan, don’t forget to take some time to reflect on how it went and what you could do to improve on it for next time. The hiring committee may also ask you what your thoughts are on how your lesson went. So be prepared to explain your choices and provide some honest feedback to them as well. It is important to explain your rationale for what you did during your lesson.
A demo lesson during your teaching job interview is a fantastic way to separate yourself from the crowd; it offers you the opportunity to prove that you earned your resume and are the right person to fill the vacant position.
Instead of only answering typical interview questions, the demo lesson plan offers you the opportunity to show off your teaching skills. On the whole, your performance in your demo lesson plan will boil down to proper planning on your end. As long as you prepare thoroughly, it will pay off in a well-organized and thought-out lesson that the students will enjoy.
Need help?
Do you need help preparing for your next teacher interview, including organizing your demonstration lesson plan? I would be happy to help you! An interview coaching session will help you gain the confidence and skills to ace your next teacher interview.
If you’re nervous about the prospect of designing and presenting your demo lesson plan, our coaching service will walk you through the whole process. We can give you topic ideas, help you with lesson pacing and activities, classroom management strategies, as well as assessments that will impress your interview panel.
Please don’t wait until it’s too late! Let me help you gain the skills you need to ace your next teacher interview by learning the secrets to developing a great demo lesson plan.
Please find out more about our interview coaching service.
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