Interview for Teaching Assistant..........any hints,,,,,,?

Question

I have an impending interview and wondered if anyone had any hints,advice or information that may help! Used to be into nursing so unsure what will happen/or be asked!! . References would be great as bit nervous!! Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Try www.tes.co.uk website. One of their forums deals directly with teaching assistants. If you are being employed to work specifically with one child then you may be asked how you would deal with specific situations of difficult behaviour. Even if you are not being employed for a specific child you will often, sadly , end up working with the group of children that need the most help, so again expect some scenarios that you may have to answer with a solution. If you are unsure it's often a good idea to say that you would make yourself aware of school policies and procedures upon accepting the job and would work within these at all times!

http://www.classroom-assistant.net/ - another internet website that deals specifically with teaching assistants.

Expect to be shown to the class and spend some time with the class that you wil work with- although this may not happen. Talk to the children and ask them about what they are doing and how they are working things out.

Good luck!!

Answer 2

Hey, listen - if you have been working in nursing, then really play up all the difficult situations you had to deal with on a daily basis in that job.

Teaching assistant would be a breeze after nursing, and so many of the qualities you need for nursing would be invaluable in a teaching environement. Things like having to be patient with people when they are sick and vulnerable translates to having patience with children when they are struggling to learn or adapt to a new situation.

Treating people with respect at all times is what good teachers always try to do, and that is something you are used to doing. Just relate all the skills you have now into a teaching situation - they should be pleased to have someone with your skills.

Good luck.

Answer 3

You should familiarise yourself with the every child matters agenda. If you look on the www.hantsnet.co.uk you can find an e-learning course on ECM.
Find out about the school, does it have specialist status?
Your experience in nursing will help you - people skills are essential in this line of work.
Don't be afraid to ask questions at the interview and remember the most essential quality for this type of work is a sense of humour.
Good luck

Answer 4

Renew familiarty with the text portions of your target students and do a bit of background reading at higher level on the same subjects. Also read some interesting books on the subject area as well as on Education itself. " Some Tasks for Education " is a good book.Reports of the Education Commissions headed by Dr.S.Radhakrishnan and Dr.Shanti Kothari are also good refence reading
Don't pretend to know things you do not know and be confident about what you do know.
Let the Panel get a feel of your care and concern for your students. That is the best bet to get the job.

Answer 5

Firstly don't panic. A good teaching assistant has their feet firmly in the real world and will follow the teachers instructions. It's your character and if you are good with children. By good I mean in charge of not necessarily their best buddy! Good luck

Answer 6

Read Summerhill by A.S.Neill.
Find it on amazon.co.uk