What do you consider to be the toughest thing about teaching math?

Mathematics can be a difficult subject to teach, and your ability to overcome instructional challenges in the classroom will most likely be evaluated by the interviewer. When answering this question, discuss some of the challenges you solved in prior roles to demonstrate your critical thinking, motivation, and desire to help students achieve success.

Many students have preconceived notions of math as a difficult subject that they do not or will not enjoy. This prejudice can make math a difficult subject for students to engage with. Math is also widely perceived as being more difficult than many other subjects. Whatever you consider to be the most difficult aspect of teaching math, your response should demonstrate to the interviewer that you are not discouraged by it.

Answer: "Many students enter my class for the first time with the preconceived notion that they cannot do the math, which makes it difficult to engage them in the class and motivate them to achieve their full potential. I understand that not every student will be good at math, but it bothers me when students underachieve because of this preconceived notion. I always try to identify those students early in the school year so that I can collaborate with them to help them reach their full potential. It can be difficult to see those students improve and succeed, but it is extremely rewarding."