Getting your desired job and career goals is literally not a piece of cake as you have to go from different levels and tests to prove yourself as an asset to the organization. In all of them, the interview part is the toughest because many candidates get anxious, stammer, fumble, or blank at the moment when the question is asked to them. The best way to make this process smooth and impactful is to prepare the most likely asked questions earlier. So, to make your recruitment process easier and joyful we have made a complete list of instructional coach interview questions which will surely help you crack this stage. Let’s begin then!
5 Mostly Asked Instructional Coach Interview Questions
A lot of recruiters ask a simple and straightforward question in the most twisted form which is mostly related to previous work experiences, skills, personality, mindset, and qualifications. Read the below-mentioned questions and their brief to make a positive impression on the employers:
1. What are your personal favorite strategies for helping teachers when it comes to developing new skills?
It is the foremost duty of instructional coaches to deal with teachers in making easier and more interactive plans for the students. The answer to this question must share your experiences, innovative ideas, dealing skills, and clear vision towards the objective of improving a teacher’s way of teaching.
Way to Answer: Starting from your current innovative strategies and resources to feedback and self-paced classes, you should include everything in your answer in the crispiest form possible. Make sure to tell the recruiters about your previous workshops, courses, and strategies along with their positive results and development in teacher’s skills so that you can also prove your said statement.
2. What’s your opinion on differentiated instruction and how you can use it?
If you want to be an instructional coach, then you must have an idea about the planning and customization of the course in such a way that every student learns even complex topics in the most effortless way. Your approach should be equal and irrespective of the student’s learning pace and understanding. Your instructions and strategies should be framed in a way that no one lags behind. The answer to this question should speak about your instruction tailoring skills and lesson planning.
Way to Answer: In the response, you should be very precise and share your point of view on innovative teaching methods. It must include your plans for ease of access to the learning material, interactive assessments, group activities, and use of visuals for better understanding of the students. Apart from this, you should also talk about your thoughts on guiding teachers for more interaction with the students to make customized plans accordingly.
3. Explain your previous experience with lesson planning and curriculum development when you were working with teachers.
It is the task of an instructional coach to stand as a pillar of guidance, support, and strength for the teachers which helps them in better lesson delivery. The answer to this question will help the recruiters understand your subject’s knowledge, skills of lesson tailoring, and syllabus enhancement as well as benefits to the teaching staff. Not only that but it also shares about your command of strategy planning and understanding of teaching problems.
Way to Answer: This answer should begin with your prior experience, problems, solutions, and results you came up with. Apart from this, tell them the gist of your courses or training which might have supported you in understanding this entire concept. Adding an example of the same situation will work as a cherry on top.
4. Which is the one professional development program for teachers that you have planned, implemented, and has been successful?
This answer tells the recruiters about your skills of communication, understanding, and collaboration with the teachers. It also shares about your efforts, dedication, and expertise in the field of running any professional development program. Not only this but through this question, the employers also want to know about your multiple ways of helping the institute’s staff in achieving their goals.
Way to Answer: Begin the answer confidently and share the insights of your successful professional development program. From your planning to evaluation, give the gist of the entire process so that the employers get an idea about your caliber. Make sure to add the statements of your own learning and how the program sharpens your skills of instructional coaching. If you have received any feedback or appreciation, then also highlight that in the end.
5. What are your sources and reasons to be up to date regarding educational trends?
The task of instructional coaches is not just limited to guiding the teachers, but it also demands the awareness or information of all on-going educational trends. The employers ask this question to know about your activeness, fact-checking, willingness to mutual growth, and ways of implementing your skills as per the current teaching demands. The question might be asked in any context including student handling, syllabus advancement, or any other educational topic.
Way to Answer: This answer will consist of all the current affairs related to the educational system and trends. Begin with sharing about your field knowledge and how you improved that as per the current trends. Do not forget to mention examples and recent practices for the growth of students, teachers, and institutes as well. Mention your every source including conferences, journals, podcasts, group discussions, and so on. Lastly, end the answer by sharing the latest trend you have heard of and your strategies for its implementation.
Other Important Instructional Coach Interview Questions
Apart from the above-shared questions, there are also a lot more that have the chance to be asked by the recruiters just to test your skills and knowledge in the interview. So, go through them as well and prepare accordingly to ace your test!
- What are your certifications, licenses, and experience relevant to be an instructional coach?
- What is your opinion on the bonding between instructional coach and principal?
- How will you deal with the situation when a teacher will be late or struggle in delivering the lessons?
- What will be your action or revert when the teachers or administrators will criticize you?
- Which are your most commonly used tools, sources, and strategies for supporting your instructional coaching?
FAQs
1. How many questions are generally asked in an instructional coach interview?
The number of questions directly depends on the employer’s satisfaction and the time frame allotted to you for the interview. But on average, most of the interviewers ask around five to six questions from each candidate.
2. Do the questions of the instructional coach interview are tough to answer?
It depends on your preparation and skills. They mostly ask situation and experience-based questions whose answer demands practical or on-field knowledge very much.
Conclusion
Above we shared a long list of the most important Instructional Coach Interview Questions which will surely give you the best preparation, confidence, and idea of framing the answer. The pro tip for cracking any interview is to give precise and short answers in a calm way.
Also, try the breath and go rule if you are feeling nervous about replying to the question. Do not forget to be honest only as your one lie leads you to rejection on the spot. If you want to know anything else, then connect with us through the comment box. Till then, thank you for reading!
Preeti Jha is a young writer who loves reading, writing, and using words in the crispiest and clearest way possible. She has 3+ years of industry experience and holds a very good command over language and representation of content. She believes in hard work and dedication when it comes to winning any milestone or getting loyal readers. From reporting and anchoring to writing and radio jockeying, she has an interest in various fields of mass communication.