17 Life Skills Teacher Interview Questions and Answers

A life skills teacher is responsible for teaching students the skills they need to live independently once they leave school. This may include teaching basic life skills, such as cooking and cleaning, or more specialized skills, such as how to manage a budget or how to find a job.

If you’re interested in becoming a life skills teacher, you’ll need to be prepared to answer questions about your teaching experience and your ability to work with students who have special needs. You may also be asked about your own experience with disability or how you’ve handled difficult situations in the past.

In this guide, we’ll provide you with sample questions and answers that you can use to help you prepare for your interview.

Are you familiar with the life skills curriculum for this state or district?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience with the school district’s life skills curriculum. If you are interviewing for a position in a new state or district, it can be helpful to research what the local schools teach about life skills and how they implement those lessons into their curricula.

Example: “I am familiar with the life skills curriculum in my current district. However, I also did some research on the life skills curriculum in your district when I was applying for this job. I think that there is a lot of overlap between our two districts’ life skills curricula, which makes me feel confident that I could adapt to teaching these lessons in your district.”

What are some of the most important life skills you teach your students?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of what you value in your students’ education. It also helps them understand how you prioritize teaching life skills to your students and which ones are most important to you. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention some specific life skills that you feel are essential for students to learn at an early age.

Example: “I believe that one of the most important life skills I teach my students is communication. Learning how to communicate effectively with others is something that we use throughout our entire lives, so it’s important to me that my students start learning about effective communication techniques as soon as they enter school. Another important skill I try to emphasize is problem-solving. Solving problems creatively and efficiently is another skill that we use often, so I make sure to include lessons on problem-solving in all of my classes.”

How do you help students who are struggling to learn a life skill?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you help students who are struggling with a particular life skill. Use examples from your experience helping students develop their skills in areas such as organization, time management or social interaction.

Example: “I have had several students over the years who struggled with developing good organizational habits. I usually start by asking them what they like about their current system for keeping track of assignments and other important information. Then, I show them some different methods that might work better for them. For example, I helped one student transition from using sticky notes to keep track of his homework to using an online planner where he could color-code assignments based on due dates.”

What is your process for helping students transition from one life skill to another?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you help students develop important life skills. Describe a few techniques you use to make transitions easier for students, such as helping them understand the similarities between one skill and another or creating visual aids that show the connections between different concepts.

Example: “I find it helpful to introduce new life skills by connecting them to previous lessons. For example, when I taught my class about healthy eating habits, we talked about what foods are good sources of protein and carbohydrates. Then, when I introduced the concept of nutrition labels, I was able to connect those terms back to our previous discussion so students could remember the information.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to help a student overcome a mental barrier that was preventing them from learning a life skill.

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to work with students who have special needs or learning disabilities. In your answer, try to highlight your understanding of the challenges that these students face and how you can help them overcome those barriers.

Example: “I once had a student in my class who was very shy and quiet. He would often avoid speaking up in class discussions because he didn’t want to say anything wrong. I noticed that when we were doing group activities, he would always sit back and let other students do all of the talking. So, I started including him more in our group projects by asking him questions about what he thought about certain topics. This helped him feel more comfortable speaking up in front of the class.”

If your class was struggling to get along, how would you address the issue?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and other challenges in the classroom. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication abilities and leadership qualities.

Example: “I would first try to identify what was causing the tension between students. If I noticed that a few students were bullying others or if there was an underlying issue like one student’s poor hygiene affecting their confidence, I would address it with the whole class. I would explain why these issues are important to resolve and give them specific instructions on how to solve the problem. For example, if a student had bad breath, I might have them use mouthwash before coming to school.”

What would you do if a parent was upset about their child’s progress in your class?

This question can give the interviewer insight into how you handle conflict and address parents’ concerns. Use your answer to show that you are a problem solver who is willing to work with parents to find solutions for their child’s learning needs.

Example: “I would first ask the parent what they think contributed to their child’s lack of progress. I would then explain my teaching methods, including any modifications or accommodations I make for students. If the student has been in my class for an extended period of time without showing improvement, I would suggest meeting with other teachers to discuss strategies we could use together to help the student learn.”

How well do you handle criticism?

This question can help interviewers determine how you respond to feedback and whether you’re open to making improvements. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a time when you received criticism and used it to improve your teaching methods or classroom management skills.

Example: “I find that receiving constructive criticism is an important part of improving my teaching style. I try to take every piece of feedback I receive seriously and use it to make changes in the way I teach lessons or manage students. In my last position, I was criticized for not giving enough positive reinforcement to students who were doing well. After this feedback, I started including more praise into my daily lesson plans.”

Do you have any additional certifications or licenses that you could add to your profile?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you are committed to your career and continuing to learn. If you have any additional certifications or licenses, be sure to list them in your resume or cover letter.

Example: “I am currently working on my certification as an elementary school teacher. I also hold a certificate for CPR training and first aid.”

When teaching a skill, do you prefer to model the behavior or have students practice the skill on their own?

This question can help an interviewer understand your teaching style and how you implement different skills in the classroom. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific skill that you taught recently and describe how you modeled or had students practice on their own.

Example: “I find that both modeling and practicing are important when teaching life skills. I like to model the behavior first so students know what they should be doing and then have them practice on their own so they can try it independently. This helps me assess which students may need more support with certain skills.”

We want to improve our graduation rates. What would you do to help students complete their life skills by the end of the semester?

This question can help an interviewer understand your approach to helping students complete their life skills courses and graduate on time. Use examples from your experience that show you know how to manage a classroom, plan lessons and motivate students to succeed.

Example: “I would first make sure the curriculum is clear and easy for students to follow. I’d also ensure they have plenty of practice opportunities so they can develop the necessary skills to pass each assessment. In my last position, I had a student who was struggling with budgeting. I helped them create a realistic budget using our class software and provided extra support when needed.”

Describe your teaching style.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teaching methods and how you interact with students. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific example of when you used your teaching style to help students succeed in the classroom.

Example: “I believe that every student learns differently, so I try to use multiple teaching styles throughout the day. For instance, if I’m teaching math concepts, I’ll write out equations on the board for some students while explaining them verbally for others. This allows me to cater my lessons to each individual student’s needs and ensure they’re understanding the material.”

What makes you qualified to teach life skills?

This question can help interviewers understand your qualifications for the role. Use your answer to highlight any relevant experience you have teaching life skills and how it has helped you develop as a teacher.

Example: “I think my background in special education makes me qualified to teach life skills because I am used to working with students who need extra support. In my previous position, I worked with students of all ages who had learning disabilities or behavioral issues. I developed strategies that allowed me to work one-on-one with these students while also helping other students learn at their own pace. This experience taught me how to adapt my lessons to meet the needs of each student.”

Which age group do you prefer to teach?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience teaching students of different ages. If you do, they may want to know how you adapt your teaching style and curriculum to meet the needs of each age group. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific age group that you enjoy working with and why.

Example: “I’ve worked with all age groups in my previous positions, but I find that I really enjoy working with middle school students. They are at an age where they’re starting to develop their own opinions and ideas about the world, which makes them eager to learn more about topics like current events and politics. I also love seeing them start to form their own opinions on these subjects as we discuss them in class.”

What do you think is the most important skill for students to learn?

This question can help interviewers understand your philosophy on teaching and what you think is most important for students to learn. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific skill that you feel has helped you in life or something you wish you had learned earlier.

Example: “I believe the most important skill for students to learn is how to communicate effectively with others. This skill can help them succeed in their personal lives as well as their professional ones. I have found that many of my students struggle with communication skills when they first enter high school, so I make sure to teach them strategies for communicating more clearly and respectfully.”

How often do you update your lesson plans?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your teaching style and how you keep students engaged. You can answer by describing a recent time when you updated your lesson plans, or you can describe the process of creating new ones.

Example: “I update my lesson plans every month because I find that it’s important for me to change things up often so students don’t get bored. For example, last month I had a student who was struggling with math concepts, so I created a special project where they could apply what they learned in class to create their own video game. This helped them understand the material better and gave them an opportunity to show off their creativity.”

There is a new life skills curriculum that you’ve never heard of before. How would you learn the material?

This question is a great way to assess how you approach new information and the steps you take to learn something. Your answer should show that you are willing to put in extra time and effort to ensure you understand the material.

Example: “I would first read through the curriculum, taking notes as I go along. Then, I would look up any terms or concepts I don’t know so I can better understand them. Finally, I would ask my colleagues if they have any tips for learning this curriculum. I find it helpful to get multiple perspectives on a topic before I begin teaching it to students.”