Interviewing for open teaching positions can be stressful! You never know what questions they will ask you, and you probably worry that you won’t be able to come up with an answer on the spot. Worry no more! Brush up on these teaching philosophy examples and you’ll have a quick answer that supports your teaching style while also impressing the hiring committee.

1. Student-centered classroom

This sounds obvious, but if you mention this in your interview, it shows the interviewers that your primary focus will be on the students, their individual needs, and what they are interested in learning more about.

2. Active learning

While there is a place, such as practicing math facts, for rote recitation, active learning will help your students learn more but also retain more. After all, students learn best when they are engaged in hands-on learning activities.

3. All students can learn

Yes, some students have more academic difficulties than others, but that doesn’t mean they can’t learn. The interviewers need to know that you care about all your students and will try your best to get each student to grow. This teaching philosophy shows that you plan on engaging all your students with whatever method helps them the most.

4. Inquiry-based learning

This teaching philosophy takes the opposite approach from the one that teachers often use to introducing new information to students. Instead, students ask questions and do much of their thinking and investigating before new information is presented.

5. Holistic approach

Gone are the days when teachers just taught the core subjects. These days, interviewers want to know that you’re also capable of introducing social, emotional, and physical lessons into the school day.

6. Performance-based learning

This teaching philosophy encourages students to develop higher thinking skills while they engage in real world examples. Role play activities increase student engagement, and engaged students remember more, learn more, and enjoy learning more.

7. Critical thinking

When students can think critically about the world, they are also more prepared to contribute to the world. Let interviewers know that you expect students to go far beyond simply comprehending and repeating concepts. Instead, you want them to encourage students to think deeply and even apply their learning to their lives.

8. Social learning

We are not isolated members of society, so students need to learn how to interact with others. It is enormously valuable for students to work together on projects and share their knowledge and expertise with each other. Let interviewers know that you plan to accomplish this goal through educational opportunities like field trips and guest speakers.

9. Peer-to-peer learning

Students love to engage with each other, and giving them the reins to become the teacher guarantees high participation and greater learning. Students can choose a topic, research it, and then teach it to the rest of the class. Not only is this a great learning strategy, but it also provides time for students to learn a wealth of information you wouldn’t be able to teach if everyone was learning the same thing at the same time.

10. Collaborative learning

This is similar to peer-to-peer learning, but instead of each student working on their own, you group students to work together on a project. Each member of the group has a specific task and, when put together, creates a finished project that can be shared with the rest of the groups.

11. Play-based learning

No, this doesn’t mean that you let your students play all day, but it does convey to the interviewers that you think education should be fun. When students play together, they learn how to be part of a group, develop cooperation skills, and brush up on their problem-solving skills.

12. Technology integration

Many teachers have a love/hate relationship with technology because of the negatives associated with screen time, but technology doesn’t have to mean staring at a screen. In fact, interviewers want to know how you’ll use technology beyond watching videos. Instead, mention that you’ll use technology in versatile ways, such as using the internet to research topics or to take virtual fields trips.

13. Classroom management

Classroom management is a hot topic in education, and interviewers want to hear that you have a strategy for preventing behavior problems. They will also expect you to promote engagement, participation, and self-motivation. Mention that you’ll accomplish that goal with engaging lessons and interesting learning materials.

14. Project-based learning

Assigning projects enables students to show what they know and what they’ve learned in an engaging, hands-on way. Plan to share ways to incorporate projects into your classroom and you’ll score major points.

15. Mixed instructional methods

Relying on just one instructional method is a recipe for boredom, so plan on sharing with interviewers how to plan to vary your direct teaching time. Share that you’ll use a blend of teacher lectures, class discussions, small group conversations, and projects.

16. Differentiation

Meeting the needs of each individual student is key to successful teaching. Plan to share your ideas for addressing each students’ individual learning styles and needs. This will go a long way to showing that you’re knowledgeable and aware that your students may not all learn or perform in the exact same ways.

17. High expectations

Students who are expected to perform at the top of their skill level tend to live up to those expectations. Share with interviewers how you plan to hold your students accountable to your high expectations while also making sure that your expectations are developmentally and intellectually appropriate for the grade you teach.

18. Encouraging learning environment

Students learn best when they are allowed to make mistakes and be creative. Fostering an encouraging learning environment gives students the confidence to try new things and try again when they fail. Rigid classrooms with no room to make mistakes tend to make students timid because they don’t want to get in trouble for not living up to a set of inappropriate expectations.

19. Teachers learn too

When students see teachers curious about learning and expressing their delight in figuring out something new, students naturally want to do the same. Learning doesn’t stop when we become adults, and students are more likely to buy into what we’re teaching if we’re willing to learn along with them.

20. Have fun!

One of the best ways to make school enjoyable is to infuse your classroom with fun. Sing songs, make up dances, share stories, tell jokes, and let the kids be kids. That way they’ll be anxious to get to school every day.

When interviewers ask about your teaching philosophy, they want to hear a confident, thought through answer. Research a few of these philosophies that intrigue you and you’ll ace that interview.