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Early Childhood Organizations - CDA Council

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By Indeed Editorial Team

Updated March 2, 2021

Published February 25, 2020

Interviewing for the position of a daycare teacher is often a more unique experience than for the average teaching position. Interviewers not only look for solid teaching skills and experience but also knowledge in early childhood development. Young children have specific learning needs that daycare teachers must address. In this article, we discuss the top 37 questions you might be asked in an interview as well as provide a list of example answers with tips.

Related: Top 6 Common Interview Questions and Answers

Looking for insight on how to answer common interview questions? In this video, Jenn, an Indeed Career Coach, breaks down the intentions behind employer's questions and shares strategies for crafting strong responses.

General questions

These questions introduce yourself to the interviewer, giving them an understanding of your personality, interests and background:

What is your educational background?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

What are your favorite children's books?

Can you describe yourself in five words?

Do you have any interests outside the classroom? What are they?

Can you explain one of your weaknesses and how you're addressing it?

What is one of your greatest strengths?

What is your favorite subject to teach?

Why did you become a teacher?

What is your favorite book?

What is your favorite film?

Related: 50 Teacher Interview Questions and Answers to Help You Prepare

Questions about teaching experience and background

These questions help the interviewer evaluate your skills, expertise and goals, determining if you're an appropriate fit for the role:

What attracted you most to teaching daycare-level students?

Have you worked with this age group before?

What do you like most about teaching this age group?

What do you like least about teaching this age group?

How would you like to organize your personal curriculum?

How would you describe your teaching style?

What is the greatest challenge facing daycare teachers?

What is the greatest success you've experienced in teaching this age group?

How do you motivate your students to be more active?

What do you think makes a great daycare teacher?

Related: Interview Question: "What is your Teaching Philosophy?"

In-depth questions

These questions offer the interviewer a deeper look into your experience and overall history in a teaching role:

Have you only taught this age group in the past?

Have you ever identified learning disabilities within your students? How did you go about it?

How will you encourage creativity among this age group?

If I were to sit in on one of your classes, what should I expect to see?

How will you help those students struggling to keep up?

Describe a troubled student you worked with and how you got through to them.

Describe your professional experience in educational roles.

How will you approach varying degrees of learning capabilities?

Do you use a lot of arts and crafts with this age group?

At what point would you involve parents in addressing consistent behavioral problems?

Why should we hire you?

Related: Learn About Being a Special Education Teacher

Sample interview questions and answers

These common interview questions include advice on how to answer them along with sample answers. The interviewer is not only assessing your knowledge but also your ability to provide clear, engaging answers.

Why do you enjoy working with children?

For a position such as this, it's common to hear a question about why you enjoy working with this particular age group. It's an interesting niche as daycare students have very different needs than those in elementary school. Your answer demonstrates the level of passion you have for teaching children.

Example

"A child's mind at this age is so vast and imaginative. They're extremely inquisitive, and there is no limit to what they can learn. It's all about that glow in their eyes when they see or experience something new that keeps me in this position. I love challenging children at this age and introducing them to the massive universe around them."

What is the most difficult aspect of childcare?

It's often difficult to keep this age group's attention. They're experiencing so many new and distracting things, and the conversation with their friend is more interesting than what you have to say. Children at this age also exhibit varying degrees of behavioral problems which makes the learning process more difficult. Your answer to this question demonstrates your overall understanding of childhood development.

Example

"Teaching kids of this age group definitely keeps me alert and focused. It's also the age where many educators notice learning disabilities and behavioral issues. In a previous position, I encountered a child with a learning disability and did my best to spend extra time with them after every lesson. While others worked on their assigned task, I would keep a close eye on the child and offer guidance when needed. Some days were frustrating, but others were so rewarding when he finally understood a concept."

What makes you a good fit for this institution?

You might have all of the skills and qualifications necessary for the role, but the interviewer needs to understand if you're a good fit for their specific facility. Different schools and other learning institutions look for different attributes in their prospective teachers. Just like with any other company, they have a unique environment or status quo, and they want individuals who fit them. When answering this question, prove that you conducted a fair amount of research on the institution and understand its goals and overall character.

Example

"When I found this position, I immediately looked up your website. Throughout my research, it became clear that this was a very forward-thinking learning center that even had an on-site therapist for the children. I know I'm a perfect fit here because I share many of the same values of early childhood education as you exhibit on both your website and on the grounds. I come with a lot of modern ideas and I'm excited about fitting them into your curriculum."

How does personality affect the success of this age group?

The character, demeanor and overall personality of a teacher has a significant impact on the quality of education that students receive. Your interviewer wants to assess your understanding of this profound effect as well as your opinion on it. When offering an answer, describe your personality within the classroom.

Example

"A teacher's personality definitely impacts the learning process. It's difficult enough to keep children's attention and speaking monotone only exacerbates that issue. Personally, I tend to have a positive, outgoing personality, which is obviously great for the role, but within the classroom, I prefer to put on more of a character. I really get into what I'm teaching and try to act larger than life to hold their attention. It's more fun for all of us when I'm more active and engaged in the lesson."

Will you use technology in the classroom?

As technology advances, many institutions find more use for it within the classroom. The interviewer wants to address your overall opinion of technology in the classroom along with how you would like to use it. Keep in mind the young age group in question as their technical knowledge and skill is limited.

Example

"One of the things that really attracted me to this position was the school's forward-thinking, especially in the aspect of technology. Introducing younger children to technology is often difficult, but they're better with it than I was at their age. To them, technology is like magic and further engages them with the lesson.

In a previous position, I used a digital whiteboard that projected onto the wall, allowing me to draw and write without actually damaging the wall. The kids loved it, too, as they were always clamoring for their turn at the board. Using learning programs on computers is also important. With the direction humanity is headed in technology, it's more important than ever that we introduce them to typing and overall functions of a computer at an early age."

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37 Daycare Teacher Interview Questions (With Sample Answers)

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By Indeed Editorial Team Updated March 2, 2021 Published February 25, 2020 Interviewing for the position of a daycare teacher is often a more unique experience than for the average teaching position. Interviewers not only look for solid teaching skills and experience but also knowledge in early childhood development.

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Case Study- Challenging Behavior- Sabrina Petway