MarketingYourProfessionalism TipsandStrategiesto Prepareand“Psych”YourselfforInterviewing,PersonalBranding,andAcquiringThatFirstSchoolMusicTeacherJobByPaulK.Fox paulkfox.usc@gmail.com www.paulkfoxusc.wordpress.comPCMEA/CollegeWorkshopMaterials üDuquesneUniversityJobFair–April4,2016 1. Everythingyouneedishere:https://paulkfoxusc.wordpress.com/becoming-a-music-educator/2. LoadthisURLofthe2013PMEAconferencehandouts(Mr.Fox’s“ghost”teacherpages)to

downloadfiles(ASAPbeforetheybecomeinactive):http://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us/Page/63613. Doyouknowwhatitmeanstobeaprofessional?–Canyoudefinethetermprofessionalism?4. Constructionofaprofessionalactivitiesarchive–theprecursorofyourrésuméande-portfolio

a. A“Mefile”ofbulletedaccomplishmentswithdatesb. Assessmentsandtranscriptsc. Scholarshipsandotherawardsd. Educationexperiences(don’tforgetstudentteachingandotherfieldassignments,

privateteaching,substituteteaching,summercamps,sports,scouts,church,marchingbandsectionalsorfieldassistance,choralaccompanimentorcoachings,etc.)

e. Sampleartifactslikesolorecitalandchamber/largegroupconcertprogramsf. Samplelessonplans,achievementtargets,rubrics,andstudentassessmentsg. Originalcompositionsandarrangementsh. Congratulatorynotesandlettersofreferencei. Philosophyofmusiceducationandpersonalmissionstatement(see#5below)

5. JimFrankel’sguidingquestionsofferedasanintroductiontohisPMEAtechnologysessionsa. Whatisyourpersonalmission?Why?b. Whatistheroleofmusicinachild’seducation?c. Arewecreatingperformers,theorists,teachers…orlifelongmusiclovers?

6. Certifiedtoteachwhat?–Areyouaspecialistorageneralist?7. Generalcategoriesofinterviewquestions

a. Musicandmusiceducationcontentandmethodsb. Generaleducationterminologyandconceptsc. Philosophy,goals,pastexperience,andeducation(avoidanemphasisonaspecialty)d. Personalitytraits,socialskills,andhabitsof“professionalism”

8. Alphabetsoup–Doyouknowtheseacronyms?Whatiftheycomeupataninterview?a. ADDorADHDb. AYPornowSPPc. TheFourCsandP21groupd. DOKorHOTSe. EQ,EUandUBDf. ESEAandNCLBg. GATE

h. IEPi. MadelynHunter’sITIPj. PDE’sSASportalk. PLCl. PSSAandPVASm. RTIn. SLO

9. Jargon,Trends,andIssues–Befamiliarwithasmanyoftheseaspossible!a. TheCommonCoreb. WholeChildInitiativesc. 21stCenturyLearningSkillsd. FlippedClassroomsandBlendedSchoolse. MultipleIntelligencesf. Customization,Differentiation,andIndividualizationg. Formative,SummativeandAuthenticAssessments

10. Whatmakesthe“idealcandidate”forbecominganeducator?–Toolsofassessmenta. CharlotteDanielson’sFourDomainsfromTheFrameworkforTeaching(Planningand

Preparation,ClassroomEnvironment,Instruction,andProfessionalResponsibilities)b. CoreTeachingStandards(seebackpage,UpperSt.ClairSchoolDistricthiringcriteria)

11. Pre-Interview–Preparationsbeforethemeetinga. Self-assessmentofpersonalstrengthsyouwishtoconveytotheprospectiveemployerb. Developmentofabalanced/unified(non-specialist)comprehensivephilosophyofmusic

education,yourownmission,vision,goals,andpersonalvaluesc. Preparationofpersonalexamples(detailedanecdotes/stories)showinghow/whenyou

havebeenmodelingprofessionalismandthecoreteachingstandardsd. Practiceanddrillonstory-tellingskillsandansweringcommoninterviewquestionse. Researchoftheschooldistrict,musicprogram,jobopening,andcurricularinnovationsf. Well-researchedquestionstoaskattheinterviewg. Trialrun(knowingexactlywhereyouaregoing–timeneededandtrafficpatterns)

12. Positiveinterviewtechniquesa. Calm,positive,open,friendly,sensitive,andcheerfulattitudeb. Warmgreetingandfirmhandshakec. Relaxedspeech,posture,andbodylanguaged. Useofinterviewer’snamewhentalkinge. Sittingatanangle,notdirectlyinfrontofinterviewer(nobarriers&defensiveposture)f. Consistenteyecontact,appropriatesmilingandresponses,andlisteningtointerviewerg. Honestyandsayingwhatyoureallymean(youmaybe“stuck”withyouranswers)h. Freedomtomakeadmissionssuchas“Idonotknow”(inexperienceisnotacrime)i. Sharingofonehardcopyandseveraldigitalversionsofyourrésuméandportfolio(#4)

13. Badhabits(avoidtheseatallcosts)a. Tardinessb. Sloppy,trendy,orinformaldressc. Repeatedverbalpausesorrepetitiveexclamationsof“Ahh,”“Umm,”“Like,”etc.d. Useofweakwordsthatsuggestalackofconviction(“kindof,”“sortof,”or“Ifeellike”)e. Unsubstantiatedorunsupportedstatementsf. Verbalclutter(toomanyrun-onstatements)or“birdwalking”(veeringoffthesubject)g. Anyformoffidgeting(tapping,spinningapen,etc.)ortouchingyourface,hair,clothesh. Failuretolookdirectlyattheinterviewer(s)i. Responsesthatgooverboardorvolunteertoomuchinformationj. Flipconversationoranswersthataretoocasual,personal,orinformalk. Forceful,dominating,one-sided,oropinionatedviewsandarrogantattitudesl. Non-verbalcuesthatreflectnerves(slouching,lookingdown,clenchinghandsinlap)

14. Postinterview–Debriefingofyourselfa. Interviewjournal–writingofeverythingyoudidrightandwrongwhileitisstillfreshb. Recordofnames/e-mailsoftheparticipants,andjobplacementprocess(dates/forms)c. Summaryofneededdocumentation,portfoliosandotherinformationforfollow-upsd. Personalizedthank-youletter(setyourselfapartfromtheotherapplicants)

15. Sampleinterviewquestionsbycoreteachingstandard(USCcriteriaormostpopular)a. Whohadthegreatestinfluenceonyoutobecomeamusicteacherandwhy?(MostPopular)b. Whatarethemostimportantqualitiesofanoutstandingeducator?(MostPopular)c. Whatisyourpersonalphilosophyofstudentdiscipline?(MostPopular)d. Howwouldyouassessthelearninginyourclassroom/rehearsal?(MostPopular)e. Whatpurposedoesmusiceducationserveinthepublicschools?(MostPopular)f. Whatistheimportanceofprofessionaldevelopmentandhowwillyouapplyittoyourcareer?(MostPopular)g. Whatareyourpersonalgoals?Wheredoyouseeyourselfintenyears?(MostPopular)h. Howdoyourecruitstudentsto“grow”amusicprogram?(MostPopular)A1. Concerningmusiceducation,whatisyourphilosophyandmission?(A–EducationalPhilosophy)A2.Whatisyourviewoftheteacher’sroleintheclassroom?(A–EducationalPhilosophy)A3.Whatismostimportanttoyou(andwhy):musiccontent,outcome,orprocess?(A–EducationalPhilosophy)B1. Describeasuccessfullessonplanyouhavedeveloped.(B–Knowledge/Education)B2. Whatunitswouldyouplanfor__thgradegeneralmusic?(B–Knowledge/Education))B3. Listafewselectionsyoumightprogramonachoral(orbandorstring)concert.(B–Knowledge/Education)B4. Whatstepswouldyoutaketoteachsomeonehowtoimprovise?(B–Knowledge/Education)B5. Howdoyougetachildtomatchpitch?(B–Knowledge/Education)C1. Whatrulesandexpectationswouldyouestablishinyourclassroom?(C–ClassroomManagement)C2. Howwillyoucontrolbehaviorinlargeensembles?(C–ClassroomManagement)C3. Howwouldyoudealwithadifficultstudentwhohasgottenoff-task?(C–ClassroomManagement)D1.Howwillyouincorporatetheuseoftechnologyinyourclassroom?(D–Technology)D2.Howhaveyouutilizedtechnologytoassistininstructionalpreparation?(D–Technology)D3.Summarizealistofsoftwareprogramsandothertechnologyyouhavemastered.(D–Technology)E1. Describeyourstrengthsinoralcommunicationsandpublicrelations.(E–OralExpression)E2. Howwouldyoudisseminateinformationtothestudentsinsupportofyourdailylessontargets?(E–OralExpression)E3. Providesampleannouncementsyoucouldmakeatana)openhouseorb)publicperformance?(E–OralExpression)F1. Discussyourstrengthsinwritingand/orwrittencommunications.(F–WrittenExpression) F2. WhatroledoestheCommonCorehaveingeneralmusic(ormusicensembles)?(F–WrittenExpression)F3. Describeyourlastorfavoritecollegeessayorarticleonmusicorcurriculum.(F–WrittenExpression)G1. Describeyourleadershipstyle.(G–Leadership)G2.Whatactionswouldyoutaketogetagroupofpeersrefocusedonthetaskathand?(G–Leadership)G3. Illustrateyourroleinagroupprojectorcollaborativeassignment.(G–LeadershiporH-Teamwork)H1.Howwouldyouinvolvestudentsinthedecision-makingorplanningofyourclasses/ensembles?(H–Teamwork)H2.Howwouldyouinvolveparentsinyourmusicprogram?(H–Teamwork)I1. Howwouldyourmusicalpeersdescribeyou?(I–Judgment)I2. Howdoyoutypicallymodelprofessionalismandjudgmentindealingwithconflict?(I–Judgment)J1. Howdoyoudifferentiateandteachtodiverselevelsofachievementinyourmusicclasses?(J–ProblemSolving)J2. Describeadifficultdecisionyouhadtomakeandhowyouarrivedatyourdecision.(J–ProblemSolving)J3. Howwillyouaccommodatestudentswhowanttoparticipateinbothmusicandsports?(J–ProblemSolving)K1.Howdoyouinsurethatlong-termplansandmusicobjectivesaremet?(K–PlanningandOrganization)K2.Illustrateatypicalmusical(ormarchingbandorensemble)productionschedule.(K–PlanningandOrganization)L1. Howwouldyoustructureageneralmusic(orensemblerehearsal)classroomofthefuture?(L–Innovation)L2. Shareananecdoteaboutaneworinnovativeteachingtechniqueyouhaveusedinmusic.(L–Innovation)M1.Describeaprojectyouinitiated(orwouldinitiate)inyourteachingorextra-curricularactivity.(M–Initiative)M2.Whatmotivatesyoutotrynewthings?(M–Initiative)M3.Howmuchtimeoutsidetheschooldayshouldamusicteacherbeexpectedtowork?(M–Initiative)N1.Howwouldyoudefineprofessionalcommitmentintermsofmsuiceducation?(N–Dependability)N2.Whatafter-schoolactivitiesdoyouplantobecomeinvolved?(N–Dependability)O1.Howdoyoucopewithstress?(O–Adaptabilty)O2.Howdoyoumanageshiftingprioritiesorchangingdeadlines?(O–Adaptability)P1. Whydidyouchoosetobecomeamusicteacher?(P–Self-Insight/Development)P2. Inyourownmusic-makingorteaching,ofwhichareyoumostproud(andwhy)?(P–Self-Insight/Development)P3. Ifyoucouldwriteabook,whatwouldthetitlebe?(P–Self-Insight/Development)Q1.Whathobbiesorspecialskillsdoyouhavewhichmayinfluenceyourfutureactivities?(Q–Energy/Enthusiasm)Q2. Inwhatextra-curricularactivitiesdidyouparticipateattheHSandcollegelevel?(Q–Energy/Enthusiasm)

16. Samplecontent-specificinquiriesandbasisforsecondorthird-rounddemonstrationlessonsa. Howwouldyouteach“steadybeat”orpitchmatchingintheprimarygrades?[GENERALMUSIC]b. Howandwhenwouldyouteachsyncopationtotheintermediategrades?[GENERALMUSIC]c. Describeindetailanintroductorylessononimprovisationusing12-barsbluesprogression.[JAZZ]d. HowwouldyouassessthelearninginEL/MSmusicclasses?[GENERALMUSIC]e. Whatmarchingbandstyledoyouprefertoteachandperforminthehalftimeshow,andhowwouldyou

organizethemarchingauxiliaryunits(majorettes,colorguard,danceteam,and/ordrumline)?[BAND]f. Howwouldyouimprovetheintonation/tonequality/bowtechniqueofastringplayers?[STRINGS]g. DescribetheselectionsyouwouldprogramforaEL/MS/HSchoral/band/orchestraconcertin

December/May.[ALL]h. Howwouldyouassistfifthgradersperformingdottedquarter/eighthcombinationshesitantlyor

incorrectly?[ALL]i. Whenandhowdoyoupresenttheconceptsofshifting/spiccato/vibratotostringstudents?[STRINGS]j. Describealessoninwhichyouwoulduseclassroominstruments.[GENERALMUSIC]k. Howdoyouadvise/assistinthestudent’sselectionofabeginningbandinstrument?[BAND]l. WhatcriteriaandmethodsshouldbeusedassignvoicetypesforyourEL/MS/HSchorus?[CHORAL]m. Whatstepswouldyoutaketoimproveanensemble’sphrasing/blend/balance?[BAND/STR./CHORAL]n. Discusstheprocessyouuseindevelopingthesingingvoice.[GENERALMUSIC/CHORAL]o. Describeyourbackgroundandknowledgeofeachofthefollowingmethodologies:Orff,Kodaly,Gordon,

Suzuki,Dalcroze.[ALL]p. Whatareyourkeyboardskillslike?Vocalskills?Secondaryinstrumentskills?[ALL]q. Howwouldyouwarm-upaband/chorus/orchestra?Howdoyoutuneinstruments?[ALL]r. Showushowyouwouldstartapieceingeneralmusic/band/chorus/orchestra.[ALL]s. Tellusaboutacomposition/improvisation/multimediaprojectyouhavedonewithstudents.[ALL]t. HowwouldyouintegratemusicwiththeotheracademicsubjectsintheEL/MS/HS?[ALL]u. Whatarethemostcommonproblemsforbeginninginstrumentalists/vocalists?[ALL]