17 Early Head Start Teacher Interview Questions and Answers

Early Head Start teachers work with children from birth to age three. They provide a safe and nurturing environment where children can learn and grow. Early Head Start teachers also work with families to help them support their child’s development.

If you’re interested in becoming an Early Head Start teacher, you’ll need to go through an interview process. During the interview, you’ll be asked a variety of questions about your experience, your teaching style, and your knowledge of child development.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of sample Early Head Start teacher interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the Head Start Program?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience working with children in the Head Start Program. If you don’t, you can explain that you’re familiar with the program and how it works. You can also mention any other programs that are similar to Head Start.

Example: “I worked as an Early Head Start teacher for two years at a local school district. I was responsible for teaching children from birth to age three in a developmentally appropriate environment. The curriculum included physical activities, music, art projects and learning games. We also had weekly parent meetings where we discussed our child’s progress.”

What are some of the most important skills you help your students develop?

This question can help interviewers understand how you view your role as an early head start teacher. It can also give them insight into the skills and knowledge you think are most important for young children to develop. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a few specific skills that you feel are essential for students’ development.

Example: “I believe that one of the most important skills I can teach my students is self-control. Children at this age are developing their personalities and learning about themselves. They need to learn how to control their emotions and impulses so they can interact with others in positive ways. Another skill I find important to teach is problem solving. Young children have many questions, and I try to encourage them to ask me when they don’t know something. I want them to learn that asking questions is a normal part of life.”

How do you create a positive learning environment for your students?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you interact with students. Use examples from past experiences that show how you create a positive learning environment for children.

Example: “I believe the most important part of my job is making sure each child feels safe, comfortable and happy in the classroom. I try to make sure every student has an equal opportunity to participate in class discussions and activities. For example, if one child raises their hand first during circle time, I call on them before calling on other students. This way, all students feel like they have an opportunity to answer questions or share something new.”

What is your teaching philosophy?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you would approach the job. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific lesson or activity that helped you develop your philosophy.

Example: “My teaching philosophy is based on the idea of play-based learning. I believe children learn best when they are having fun and exploring their environment. In my previous role as an early head start teacher, I noticed that many parents were concerned about their child’s development. To help ease these concerns, I started each day with free play time where kids could explore different toys and activities. This practice also helped me get to know each child better and understand what they enjoyed.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to deal with a challenging student.

Interviewers ask this question to see how you handle difficult situations. They want to know that you can remain calm and use your problem-solving skills to help students learn despite their challenging behavior. In your answer, explain the steps you took to resolve the situation while still maintaining a positive learning environment for other students.

Example: “I once had a student who was very disruptive in class. He would often talk over me when I was speaking and throw toys at other children. I spoke with his parents about the issue, and they told me he has ADHD. After talking with them, we decided on a plan of action to help him focus during class. We started by giving him extra time to complete assignments and then slowly reduced the amount of time as he improved. Eventually, he learned how to control his behavior and became one of my best students.”

If a student is not making progress, what strategies do you use to help them improve?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teaching methods and how you motivate students. In your answer, explain what steps you take to help a student who is struggling with learning or behavior. You can also mention any special techniques that have helped you work with these types of students in the past.

Example: “I always try to find out why a student isn’t making progress before I start working on improving their skills. If they’re having trouble with math, for example, I’ll first make sure they understand the concepts behind the problem. Then, I’ll give them extra practice time so they can improve their skills. For students who are acting out, I use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior. This helps me get through to them and show them that they can succeed.”

What would you do if a parent was not happy with their child’s progress?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and address parents’ concerns. In your answer, try to show that you are empathetic and willing to work with the parent to find a solution.

Example: “I would first ask the parent what they were concerned about and then explain my teaching methods. I would also offer to meet with them at any time to discuss their child’s progress. If the parent was still not happy with their child’s progress after our meeting, I would continue to meet with them until we found a solution that worked for both of us.”

How well do you handle criticism?

Early head start teachers often work with children who are learning to communicate. This means that they may need to receive feedback from parents and other professionals about how their students are progressing. Interviewers want to know that you can take criticism in stride and use it to improve your teaching methods.

Example: “I understand that receiving constructive criticism is part of the job, so I try to be receptive when someone gives me advice on how to do my job better. If a parent or teacher tells me something I’m doing wrong, I make sure to listen carefully and ask questions if I don’t understand what they’re saying. Then, I implement any changes I think will help.”

Do you have any experience working with children who have special needs?

Early head start programs often work with children who have special needs. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience working with these types of students and how you handled them in the past. Use examples from your previous job or discuss what you would do if a student had a specific need.

Example: “I worked at an elementary school for two years, where I taught kindergarten. One of my students was deaf, so I learned American Sign Language to communicate with her. She also had trouble reading, so I used visual aids like pictures and flashcards to help her learn. I also had another student who had ADHD, so I made sure she sat near me during lessons to make it easier for her to pay attention.”

When disciplining a student, what methods do you use?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your approach to discipline and how you handle it. When answering, consider describing a specific situation in which you disciplined a student and the methods you used that were effective.

Example: “In my experience, I’ve found that positive reinforcement is often the most effective way to discipline students. For example, when a child misbehaves, I try to find something they’re doing well and praise them for it. This helps reinforce good behavior while discouraging bad behavior. If necessary, I will also use time-outs or other disciplinary measures.”

We want to ensure our students have access to nutritious food. What strategies would you use to promote healthy eating habits?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your experience with teaching children about nutrition and healthy eating habits. Use examples from your previous work or school experiences to highlight your ability to teach students about food, health and wellness.

Example: “I believe that the best way to promote healthy eating habits is by modeling good behavior myself. I would make sure all of my meals are nutritious and include a variety of fruits and vegetables. I would also encourage parents to do the same at home so their children can see how important it is to eat well. In addition, I would plan fun activities for the class where we could learn more about different foods and what they provide us.”

Describe your process for preparing a lesson plan.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you plan for lessons. Use examples from past experiences to describe the steps you take when creating a lesson plan, including any resources you use or specific strategies you implement.

Example: “I start by reviewing my students’ previous assignments and assessments to get an idea of where they’re at in their learning process. Then I create objectives based on what I know about each child’s development and needs. Next, I develop activities that will help them achieve these objectives while also providing fun and engaging learning opportunities. Finally, I make sure to include plenty of hands-on activities and sensory exercises.”

What makes you qualified for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the position. They want to know what experience you have working with young children and how it relates to the role. When preparing for your interview, think about what skills you have that make you a good fit for the job. Consider highlighting any certifications or training you’ve completed in early childhood education.

Example: “I am passionate about working with young children because I believe they are our future. I feel like every child deserves an equal opportunity to succeed, no matter their background. In my previous role as an assistant teacher, I worked with many families who were struggling financially. I helped parents understand how learning at such a young age can help their child later in life. I also taught them ways they could continue teaching their child at home.”

Which early childhood education programs have you completed?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn about your education background. They want to know if you have the necessary qualifications for the role and whether or not you’re prepared to take on the responsibilities of an early head start teacher. In your answer, share which programs you’ve completed and what they taught you. If you haven’t finished a program yet, explain how you plan to complete it in the future.

Example: “I graduated from Western University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. I learned many valuable skills during my time there, including how to create lesson plans that support children’s development and how to manage a classroom effectively. I also took several courses focused on child development, such as sensory integration and language acquisition.”

What do you think sets Early Head Start apart from other early childhood education programs?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience with Early Head Start and how it compares to other early childhood education programs. In your answer, try to highlight the unique aspects of Early Head Start that make it stand out from other educational programs for young children.

Example: “I think what sets Early Head Start apart is its focus on providing a high-quality education to low-income families. I’ve worked in several preschools before, but none were as committed to helping parents learn about their child’s development and giving them resources they need to succeed. This program also has an excellent reputation for preparing kids for kindergarten, which makes me excited to be part of it.”

How often do you update your lesson plans?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your teaching style and how you adapt to changes in the classroom. Your answer should show that you are a flexible teacher who can adjust quickly to new situations.

Example: “I update my lesson plans every week, but I also have an emergency plan for each day of the week. If something unexpected happens during class time, I use these plans as a reference to help me teach the children what they need to know. For example, if we’re learning about animals and one of the students is absent, I’ll use the emergency plan to find a way to incorporate the missing information into our lessons.”

There is a new parent outreach initiative that requires you to reach out to at least 10 new parents each week. How would you go about doing this?

This question is a great way to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work with parents. It also shows the interviewer how you prioritize tasks and manage time. Your answer should include specific steps you would take to reach out to new parents each week.

Example: “I would start by creating a spreadsheet of all the families I need to contact, including their names, phone numbers and email addresses. Then, I would create a weekly schedule for myself that includes at least 10 outreach calls per day. For example, I might make five calls on Monday, three on Tuesday, two on Wednesday and one on Thursday. This ensures I am reaching out to new parents every single week.”