I have a long list of general sample interview questions for teaching positions that I am practicing.

However, I wonder if anyone (such as those of you who have recently attended a fair) have any examples of questions asked for Special Education positions in particular?

Thank you in advance.

Congratulations on your success, Pippafrit!

Professional outfits, check. List for items I need to bring, check. Spreadsheets of school information, check. List of questions to ask prospective schools, check. Et cetera, et cetera, check, check.

As I prepare for my first fair next week, all that's left to do is go through my example interview questions a few more times (I am overprepared in that department) and think of how I can layer my clothing so that I do not freeze in Iowa (I live in Texas and I type this while looking out my window on an 80 degree day). I can't help but feel all mushy about how indispensible this forum has been for me as a member, as well as during the year or so before that as I lurked and learned.

Super-thanks to everyone who contributes to this site. Your time, opinions, and insight have given me confidence, made me consider things I wouldn't have otherwise, and made me feel part of an awesome community of teachers.

Perhaps I should save my thanks for when I get a job, but I am pretty sure that I will. It may not be the Super Tier One that many of y'all are going for or have already landed, but it will be something. I have dreamed of living overseas for 75% of my life. The thought of fulfilling that dream and combining it with my passion for teaching is too exciting.

Thank you, ISR!

Forgive my ignorance, but I thought IB was a program for upper grades only. A couple of the postings for elementary positions, including SPED, list IB experience as a qualification

Can someone point me to a resource for what IB looks like at an elementary level or for SPED?

I guess my goal should be to get a position at an IB school and hopefully gain experience in it, then? I didn't really consider this until the recent post from @livefree.

Thanks in advance.

Personally, I wouldn't want to take the risk of spending the ca$h for a plane ticket and a hotel when it may turn out to be a total waste of my valuable time, or maybe worse if it really can damage a reputation.

What would I do? Use the weekend to do something productive and totally risk-free. Spend the hours on the Search or TIE database researching countries, schools, and vacancies, writing cover letters, filling out online applications and doing whatever else needs to be done to sell yourself without attending a fair.

I haven't been to the UNI fair yet, but I will say that in more than one place in the accompanying registration materials it states that people wearing visible nametags will be allowed in the exhibition hall, implying that someone will be checking. How they would realistically keep tabs on hundreds of people is another question, though. I won't tattle since you're not my competition, but I doubt everyone will be that accomodating and, who knows, when the pressure is on I may feel differently if someone going for the same vacancies as me is going "rogue."

Good luck whatever you decide.

I know that for the vacancies posted for the UNI fair at least, all Learning Support/Resource/SPED positions specify SPED certification as a qualification. For what that's worth...

Good luck!

Thanks for sharing, DCgirl!

Sneakers with lace? Unemployable!

@sid
Are suits for women the standard? I don't own one, let alone three for each day of a fair. You're a recruiter, no? Does your opinion of people change if they're not in a suit? I was planning on the minimum--dress pants/skirt, nice blouse, blazer.

Are nice leather boots appropriate? Heels? It's going to be freezing in Iowa.

The last thing I want is to have points against me!

"There are also quite a few niche int'l special needs schools scattered around the world that work with students that cannot get into most int'l schools for academic/monetary reasons and they can also provide a rewarding work experience (financially and spiritually)."

@wrldtrvlr123 Such as?

I have noticed that in cities in Colombia in particular, housing is frequently provided with the stipulation that a single teacher will be housed with another single teacher.

What if I do not want to live with another single teacher? Does anyone have direct (versus speculative) experience with this?

Gracias!

Shadowjack! Thank you ten times over for your superb coverage.

We have all been waiting to say, "Congratulations to you and Mrs. Shadowjack!"

A most excellent ending.

Congrats to you and your family on your decision.

What's better?

A teacher that doesn't recognize satire or a teacher that shames fun?

*applause*

Can there be an evil villain? or a maverick? Or a rogue? Or a PsyGuy?!