Interview Questions for Would be Headteacher

Interview Questions for would be Headteachers in the Ghana Education Service.

1. What are the main functions of a headteacher in a school?

2. How do you deal with a difficult learner or teacher?

3. How would you describe your headteacher?

4. Outline any four activities in the Itinerary of a headteacher for a term.

5. Identify four features of a good lesson plan.

6. Which of these is the most important, a. What to teach? or b. How to teach?

7. What makes you the best choice for the headship?

8. List the various ranks in the Ghana Education Service from the highest to the lowest.

9. Describe the processes in the preparation of a School Performance Improvement Plan  (SPIP)

10. The Capitation Grant cannot be used to carry out some activities in the school. List any four of such activities.

11. How would you solve conflicts among  your teachers as a headteacher?

12. How would you correct a teacher who has taught a concept you think is contains errors.

13. a. List all the executives of a Parent Association.

      b. What are the Guiding Policies on the  formation of Parent Association?

      c. What in your opinion necessitated the removing of teachers in the Parents Association?

14. The Ghana Education Service has banned all forms of money collection or fees in the basic schools. List any four of such fees.

15. Mention any four Conducts expected by a teacher as contained in the Teacher's Code of Professional Conducts.

16. Identify any four managerial tools used by the headteacher.

17. Explain the following:
A. The Head as a Manager.
B. The Head as Leader.
Which of these two do you prefer and why?

17. Why should you be appointed as a Headteacher?

18. Describe any four administrative functions of the Head of a School.

19. Describe how you will help a teacher who always defaults in the preparation and submission of Lesson Notes. 

20. a. What are the Global/Core Competencies?

      b. List any five examples of the Global/Core Competencies.

21. How would you explain the differences between Misappropriation and Misapplication of Funds?

The Structure of the Kindergarten Curriculum

The Introduction of the New Curriculum, in Ghanaian schools have brought new dimension to teaching and learning at the Primary School and the Kindergarten.
In this discussion we will dwell on the New Kindergarten Structure.

Firstly, teaching in the KG has become interesting due to the introduction of this current curriculum.

The problem however, is most KG teachers are not aware of this or they were not adequately trained on the KG Curriculum.

First things first, the KG Curriculum is an integration of all the subjects curriculum in the primary school. A facilitator may have to look for some information in the primary school curriculum if he or she finds the one in the KG Curriculum insufficient.

The Following are the expected Pedagogies to be used in the Primary School.

1. The Thematic Approach
2. Play - based methods
3. Learner Centred Methods
4. Inquiry/Discovery Methods

For more information on the above consult the KG Resource Pack Page 20 - 25.

At the KG, the Time Table is actually a Daily Plan. This Daily Plan composed of

1. Self Registration System
2. Circle Time
3. Group Activity (Indoor/Outdoor)
4. Learning Centers
5. Story Sharing
6. Phonics Time

Self Registration
This is the system of registration where learners are allowed to register themselves in class. This system allows learners to move and participates in the class activity. It is after this that the teacher marks the register without calling names.

Circle Time
This is the time the Facilitator teaches the Lesson as is contained in the Learning Plan. Learners may sit in a circle, or Semi Circle or in a Horse Shoe formation.

Group Activity (Indoor/Outdoor)
During this period learners are put in groups to perform several activities in Numeracy, Language and Literacy,  and Creative Arts. Facilitators can do this both inside and outside the classroom.

Learning Centres
Every facilitator is expected by this curriculum to create  Learning Centres in the Classroom. A Learning Centre is a special placed dedicated in the classroom or in a special room for the purpose of teaching certain concepts or skills. So instance, you can create Home Centre, Reading Centre, Music Centre, Arts Cente, etc.

Phonics Time
This is the time the Facilitator is expected to teach Phonics. The recommended Approach so far is the Jolly Phonics Approach.
You can follow these links for more ....

You can can download resources on the Jolly Phonics by following the links......

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=come Gilberto tjolly.teachphonics.teachers

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rabie_mohamed.jolly

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=come

This means that, we need to set up our classroom to achieve such a target. This therefore means that every teacher should set up his or her classroom, so that children can learn consciously or unconciously. For inspiration on how to to set up your classroom search for  #konnectclassroom on Facebook. You can also Call or Whatsapp: 233278017492 on how to Set Up your Classroom.

Story Sharing
This is the last session of the day. The Facilitator is supposed to give short but interested stories to learners. These stories may be contained in a book, or drawn on Charts and pasted in the Classrooms. Facilitators may wear special costumes during story telling periods. These stories may be in both Ghanaian Language and English Language.

See how Teacher Gena dressed during Story Sharing...https://www.facebook.com/237442986772606/posts/685136285336605/?app=fbl

How to Set Up your Classroom?

Teaching in the 21st Century is entirely different from what we used to do. Today's classroom should be set for effective teaching and learning.
So this may require a teacher to be in a school a week or more before school resumes just to set up his or her classroom.

A well set up classroom would do among other things all the following:

1. Stimulates teaching and learning.
2. Maintains classroom discipline.
3. Encourage learners to always be in school.
4. Reduces teacher fatigue.
5. Reduces the rate at which the teacher talks.
6. Lessons are always learner - centred.

Why should a teacher Set Up His or Her Classroom?
1. Makes teaching and learning easier.
2. Encourage your learners to always be in school.
3. Maintains discipline in the classrooms.
4. Reduce teacher fatigue.
5. It makes learning Child - Centred.
6. Saves the teacher from too much talking.
7. Children learn both consciously and unconsciously.
8. Teaching resources is handy and always available for teaching and learning.
9. It prevents the teacher from abstract teaching.

Things needed to set up your classroom.
1. Old newspaper
2. Old Calendars
3. Cradboards
4. Manila Cards
5. Paper glue
6. Rice
7. Beans
8. Rice sac
9. Scissors
10. Posters
11. Toys
12. Old gadgets like radio, tv, etc
13. Old utensils
14. Poster Colours,  Crayons
15. Starch or Kooko
16. Story books

*Setting Up Your Classroom*

After successfully, getting all the materials you are ready to set up your classroom for effective teaching and learning.

Every term, your classroom setting have to different depending on which topics, skills or Concepts you will be teaching during the term or academic year.

Every Classroom Setting should have at least four Learning Centres.  Learning Centres are special rooms or dedicated places in the classroom for the purpose of teaching special concepts and skills.

Examples of Learning Centres ....

1. Home Centre
This is a Centre for the purpose of teaching home-based skills or Concepts like cooking,  cutting, chopping, peeling, mixing, etc. This place should have things like kitchen stuffs, radio, television, standing fan, etc. The place should look like a typical home. Papers can be used to make some of the materials.

2. Music Centre
This centre contains simple musical instruments like drums, flute,  xylophone, horns,  sticks, sticks, etc. Materials in the Music Centre should be capable of producing sound, rhythms, etc. Facilitators may look for local musical instruments and place them at this Centre.

3. Reading Centre
This is a Centre in the classroom for the purpose of teaching Reading. It is a mini library in the classroom or outside the classroom. This Centre should contain story books, leaflets, Old Newspaper, Calendars, posters,  magazines, story books, etc. Facilitators may also have a Video Player to show documentary or films for children, animals, people,  etc.

4. Arts Centre
This centre is designed purposely to teach Creative Arts.  It should have arts work from teachers, learners, etc. It may keep records of arts work by learners. Arts works in magazines, brochures, books, Calendars, etc may be kept in the Art Centre. Learners crafts madebfeom paper, wood, clay, etc may be placed in the Arts Centre.

5. Numeracy/Mathematics Centre
This is a Centre dedicated for the teaching of mathematics or numeracy. This Centre contain the Geoboard, ludo, Oware, Abacus, Cuisinaire Rod, Multibbased Blocks, Counters, Bundle of sticks, Charts,  etc

For inspiration on how to set up your classroom,  please search #konnectclassroom on Facebook