| Whether you are a college graduate or a seasoned | | | | When you start creating your portfolio, you will see |
| teacher out of work looking to get back into it, you | | | | that this is more than just a task to present to your |
| may want to do some self analysis before launching | | | | future employer, but it's a look back at the body of |
| a full on job search. This will be a brief on how to | | | | work you've created. You can even find further |
| spruce up your professional background and some | | | | strengths to show off to your interviewer through |
| advice that may give you inspiration to be in a | | | | this whole recapitulating event. |
| teaching position that you've dreamed about. | | | | The Interview |
| Creating Your Portfolio | | | | When it comes down to the interview, your portfolio |
| The life you have chosen as a profession is an | | | | is going to back you up with evidence to the school, |
| intimate one. It's a life that involves a lot about | | | | jobs and accomplishments from your past in better |
| sacrifice for the good of others to make pupils | | | | detail. The interview will be the face to face |
| educated citizens and ultimately more effective in | | | | impression, but preparation is key before the big day. |
| society. Unlike many professions it's hard to really | | | | In the field of education, jobs will vary as far as |
| draw a circle around what you've done. But as a | | | | curriculum, salary, and district policy. Before you go, |
| teacher, jobs like this should be documented and | | | | make a point to gather as much info as you can |
| your accomplishments should be given their merit. | | | | about the school district. Find out how much funding |
| Bringing with you a body of work from either the | | | | goes into the curriculum there and break it down per |
| school you graduated, or your former employers, is | | | | child. It's good to know what's in the interest of the |
| just as important, for instance, as an architect or a | | | | children and the district as a whole so you can have |
| photojournalist. | | | | questions and relate to your interviewer when the |
| Remember that gathering your portfolio is looking | | | | specifics come up with school economics. When you |
| deeper than your daily lesson plan. Look for specific | | | | contact the school or jobs referral location, make |
| artifacts during your career that can help. Examples | | | | sure you go through the prescreening interview just |
| like support letters from parents, students, | | | | to make sure you make it through the minimum |
| administration or anything that represents some | | | | qualifications they are looking for. |
| aspect or phase in your teaching career. If you are a | | | | During the interview be articulate with how you |
| graduate aspiring to a teaching profession, a | | | | answer their questions, and use examples as often |
| reference letter from a professor would be ideal to | | | | as possible from your past classroom experiences. At |
| stuff in your portfolio. Other artifacts you can glean | | | | the end, thank the committee and always follow up |
| are examples of class recordings that you may have, | | | | with a letter to leave a lasting good impression |
| or student handouts that exemplify your teaching. | | | | whether the interview was nailed or not. |