How to Address Your Growth Areas as a Teacher Candidate (Before an Interviewer Asks)

Oct 30

Every interviewer will ask about your weaknesses, and the candidates who answer well are the ones who already did something about them. This chapter is for teacher candidates who want to find their growth areas early and work on them, with a short self-check and two lists of ways to build content knowledge and teaching skill. If you are prepping that interview answer now, pair it with teacher strengths and weaknesses: examples and sample answers.

This is Chapter 10 of 51 from Road to Teaching (2025 edition). Read the whole book free, in order, at Read the Book.

By Dr. Eric Hougan

“To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.”Buddha

Yet another way to continue differentiating yourself from other recent graduates is to demonstrate competency not only in your subject matter but also in your ability to apply and use effective pedagogy. Many teacher candidates who follow the traditional teacher education programs and complete their certification are strong in pedagogy but weaker in the subject matter. Whereas someone entering into the teaching profession from their given industry or field of study may be stronger in the subject matter, but weaker in pedagogy. Use your pre-service teaching experience to identify and strengthen your weak areas and to grow professionally. After school or during the summer take advantage of any and all opportunities to gain further insight into your content area or to strengthen your pedagogy. Your efforts will pay off by creating meaningful work experiences that will differentiate you from other job seekers.

Professional growth requires honest self-assessment. Ask yourself these questions:

What aspects of teaching make me most uncomfortable or nervous?
Which content areas do I struggle to explain clearly to others?
What feedback have I consistently received from professors or supervisors?
When observing expert teachers, what skills do they demonstrate that I haven’t yet mastered?
What student populations do I feel least prepared to serve effectively?

Once you’ve identified your growth areas, create a specific development plan with measurable goals. For example, if classroom management is a concern, your goal might be to observe and document two different management approaches and implement elements of each during your student teaching experience. In summary, look for opportunities to excel and grow on those off days or during the summer. Below are a few ideas to kickstart your thinking on how to potentially deepen your content knowledge and strengthen your instructional skills.

Examples in How to Become More Competent in Your Subject Matter

Volunteer in an organization that researches or supports your content area. For example, if you are an art teacher you could volunteer at the local art gallery or museum. You could then meet local artists that may later be helpful in your own classroom.
Find an internship or a job in your content area. For science teachers, this might mean working in a lab; for history teachers, at a historical society or museum.
Attend a workshop or a course at the local community college specifically focused on advanced content in your discipline.
Engage with online learning platforms like Coursera, edX, or Khan Academy to strengthen content knowledge in specific areas.
Join professional organizations in your content area that offer resources, publications, and professional development opportunities.
Participate in field research or citizen science projects related to your subject area.

Examples to Develop a Stronger Pedagogy

Substitute teach in your local schools. This is a wonderful way to learn about teaching and the different schools in your community.
Volunteer or work in student summer programs. Such programs as TRIO Upward Bound can be found in hundreds of communities across the United States.
Tutor and mentor students. You can work with local private tutoring companies or advertise your own services.
Observe expert teachers in your content area or grade level. Take detailed notes on their instructional strategies.
Record your own teaching and review it critically, looking for specific aspects to improve.
Participate in instructional rounds or lesson study groups where you can collaborate with others on improving practice.
Seek out micro-credentialing opportunities in specific instructional approaches or technologies.
Co-teach with a more experienced educator who can provide real-time feedback and modeling.
Attend webinars or virtual conferences focused on pedagogical approaches relevant to your teaching area.

Growth requires stepping outside your comfort zone. As educator and author John Hattie notes, “The biggest effects on student learning occur when teachers become learners of their own teaching.” By addressing your growth areas proactively, you not only become a more competitive job candidate but also establish habits of continuous improvement that will serve you throughout your teaching career.

Remember that every teacher, even those with decades of experience, continues to have growth areas. The willingness to acknowledge and address these areas is what distinguishes exceptional educators from those who merely go through the motions. Your commitment to improvement now signals to potential employers that you will bring this same growth mindset to their school community.

Key Takeaway

Honestly assess your strengths and growth areas, then actively seek experiences that address weaknesses before they become problems in your teaching practice. Use summer breaks and free time strategically to build skills through volunteering, internships, substitute teaching, or additional coursework.